Investing in
community skills
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Early Childhood Development (ECD): In Mpumalanga, we have developed an ECD Centre of Excellence at the Sappi Elandshoek community through Penreach, the largest teacher development programme in Africa. Sappi sponsored the training of the principal and five primary school teachers from a local primary school in ECD-related topics. In 2018, a total of 22 ECD practitioners graduated from the ECD programme in KwaZulu-Natal with an NQF4 qualification, implemented under the auspices of Training & Resources in Early Education (TREE), and a further 36 will complete their training at the end of 2019. Of these, 18 will have an NQF4 certification which they will administer in their crèches, while the other 18 have been trained to run playgroups in their areas, where previously no ECD facilities existed.
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PROTEC (Programme for Technological Careers) was established in 1982 with the aim of upgrading science, technology and maths (STEM) education for Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners in South Africa’s previously disadvantaged communities. Sappi is PROTEC’s longest-standing supporter and has been involved with the organisation since 1995. We support five branches in Sappi communities: Stanger, Mandeni, Umkomaas, Nelspruit and Pietermaritzburg.
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Sappi KwaDukuza Resource Centre: Established in KwaZulu-Natal in 2000, the main objective of the centre is to provide learner and school support, support for community members looking for work and support for students undergoing tertiary education. The aim is also to enable all community members to enter the economic mainstream. Resources and facilities at the centre include a digital village, a technolab, a reference library, a televideo centre, a conference centre, a teacher and learner resource centre, a print room and an administration centre.
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Khulisa Ulwazi (‘Growing knowledge’) training centres in Eston and KwaMbonambi provide training to all Khulisa growers and land reform beneficiaries. Training covers all aspects of forestry, including the core operational skills as well as safety, legal compliance and running a business. In addition to these one-day courses, Sappi organises a number of accredited training courses from chainsaw training to safety and first aid training right up to the one-year Supervisor Development Programme which is equivalent to NQF4. Since 2016 the centres have provided training for over 2,200 people.
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Skills Centres at Ngodwana and Saiccor Mills: The aim is to provide and elevate technical vocational skills to Sappi employees and members of the local community. Trainees are unemployed youth (aged 18 to 35), living in local communities around our factories and forestry operations.