umgeni water for upload
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SPONSORED FEATURE A DOZEN under-resourced schools in KwaZulu-Natal are now the proud recipients of brand new comprehensive maths and science kits – equipment that will not only benefit current pupils and teachers but will have an impact further into the future of South Africa. The extraordinary donation was thanks to Umgeni Water, which partnered with Pinetown-based Edutrade for the initiative. The symbolic handover of the kits took place at Umgeni Water’s head office boardroom in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, and was attended by representatives from the 12 schools as well as Edutrade and Umgeni Water delegates. The schools are Amakholwa Secondary, Brettenwood High, Dingizwe High, Siyahlomula High, Ukukhanyakwezwe Secondary, Umlazi Secondary, Bangibizo Primary, Mpumelelo Primary, Mqhathi Primary, Table Mountain Primary, Umlazi Junior Primary and Woodlands Primary. Welcoming the guests, Shami Harichunder, Umgeni Water’s Corporate Stakeholder Manager, said the science and maths kit project had been “a long time in the planning”. “Our greatest wish is that these schools put these valuable resources to good use – that they are used to help children better understand the sciences, and that this translates into better exam results. “Many schools are under-resourced in South Africa, and while these kits will not eradicate the backlog, they will help in some tangible way to improve the understanding of science and maths among children.” Umgeni Water CE Cyril Gamede, an engineer who is president of the Engineering Council of South Africa and also chairman of the University of Zululand, said, “Every successful nation has a basis of science as a precursor to that success. Against the rest of the world, South Africa compares poorly in maths and science, and we have to improve these statistics, starting from primary level. You can’t just intervene in matric.” To create more engineers for the future, the pass rate in science and maths needed to increase. That cannot be done only from high school level, he added. “These science and maths resources will help make a difference. If more companies became involved in a small way, as Umgeni Water has, it could make a difference and have a ripple effect.” He said the kits were an excellent starting point for the future. “Science is quite an abstract subject. Take magnesium. Many people don’t have a clue what it is, but now that these children and their teachers have these kits, they can see for themselves what magnesium is. They can carry out experiments with the chemicals provided, and actually see what they are learning about.” Edutrade’s Nareshini Ranganthan commended Umgeni Water on its initiative, saying they were thrilled to partner the facility “on such a beautiful project”. “The schools we have chosen, while some are more needy than others, all share the same passion to improve the quality of their maths and science teaching and their exam marks. Chalk and talk is limited – today, learning has to be hands-on to make a difference. “Matric level is too late to make a difference, so we looked at primary and secondary school level when we planned this project. Maths and science marks and understanding cannot be done in just one phase. You have to start from Grades 4 to 7, to establish a solid foundation, and continue that through Grades 8 and 9. So when pupils have to choose their subjects they will have a decent foundation in maths and science and hopefully, this will decrease the drop out rate.” To make this happen, the resource kits have been distributed to both primary and secondary/high schools, to ensure continuity. Teachers will be fully trained in the use of the kits, and will be expected to provide feedback along the way. NIRASHA Sampson, Manager in the Office of the Chief Executive said the water utility received numerous requests for help, but one of the simplest pleas had touched their hearts. “A school had asked us for plastic bottles for chemicals.” When Umgeni Water turned 40 last year, CE Cyril Gamede, an engineer who is passionate about the sciences, had determined that as a celebration of the organisation’s birthday, the utility would focus on providing some sustainable educational solutions for children and their futures. “The request for water bottles was the catalyst – and these 12 resource sets will hopefully work as solid building blocks. The recipient schools have varying levels of resources and equipment, but the passion shown by the teachers and the children is impressive.” A list of schools was drawn up and they were all thoroughly assessed before being shortlisted, she added. “The handover doesn’t end here. Progress reports will be made every six months, and the teachers will be trained in the use of the kits and the chemicals, for instance, so we can make sure they are totally familiar with everything and fully understand the equipment and what they are working with.” The materials within the resource kits, for instance chemicals, are sufficient for at least three years. Schools can order stocks from Edutrade to replenish the kits when needed. The kits are aligned with the national curriculum. IN 2012, Umgeni Water made a decision to adopt a structured approach in its corporate social investment. It turned its focus to helping improve the quality of education in needy areas and schools, women empowerment and job creation – and through those, improving the quality of life of people living in the Umgeni Water operational area. Through numerous projects and sponsorships, it has done just that, including rehabilitating and improving infrastructure at needy schools (for example water and sanitation, and upgrading of laboratories). It has also provided financial assistance to an organisation that provides equipment for cataract surgery for people in disadvantaged areas. One of Umgeni Water’s main areas of focus, however, has been on education, and through various channels, improving the conditions under which thousands of children are forced to study. Shami Harichunder, Umgeni Water’s Corporate Stakeholder Manager, said: “We are convinced that our contribution will assist these children – and other recipients – to enhance the conditions in which they are currenty studying.” Sustainable job creation is also a CSI priority. Umgeni Water has assisted a group of people from Maphephethwa, Inanda, in establishing a co-op. The organisation has provided funding to the members of the co-op to establish a micro- business that will manufacture concrete products, among them, bricks and blocks that will be sold the the local community for construction of houses. In this way, Umgeni Water has contributed to the creation of sustainable jobs and income. Another similar initiative involves supporting the establishment of a small poultry farming home industries project. Successful community engagement is a critical success factor for Umgeni Water during water supply infrastructure construction, and involves communities participating in the identification, definition, and joint solution-seeking with other stakeholders in issues affecting their surroundings. Successful management of this has resulted in a foundation of trust being built with community stakeholders. This, along with Umgeni Water’s focus on sustainable projects, as opposed to “one-offs”, is a priority of its social responsibility programme – an example being Imvutshane Dam, which it recently built outside Stanger. “Our legacy to that community was the establishment of a soccer field – we also established food gardens for the community.” Harichunder said the donation of the maths and science kits to the 12 needy schools reflected the seriousness with which Umgeni Water regards its social responsibility – and the importance of education and learning. “Science has an extremely important place in our country, and we want to ensure that by getting involved, forming partnerships with schools, improving and enhancing the manner in which science is studied and communicated to pupils, they have a better understanding of the subjects.” SCHOOL SCIENCE KITS SCHOOL SCIENCE KITS UMGENI WATER DONATES LEARNING AIDS TO NEEDY SCHOOLS Seen at the Umgeni Water Science kit handover to schools are (back row) Thobile Cele, Thobile Makhunga and Nareshini Ranganthan of Edutrade, Cyril Gamede (Chief Executive of Umgeni Water), Doctor Ngema, A Mensah, Victor Duma, Ndumisa Dlamini and Wellington Sikhosana. Front row: VDJ Khamyile, Melusi Khena, Mdumiseni Ndlovu, Siphiwe Mbongwa, Neil Tommy and Felix Duma. GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY Shami Harichunder, Umgeni Water’s Corporate Stakeholder Manager. 40th anniversary gift to KZN’s children Cyril Gamede, Chief Executive of Umgeni Water. Nirasha Sampson, Manager in the Office of the Chief Executive. Umgeni Water Chief Executive, Cyril Gamede presents Mdumiseni Ndlovu with Siyahlomula High School’s science resources handover certificate. Wellington Sikhosana (right) receives Dingizwe High School’s handover certificate from Cyril Gamede. Neil Tommy (left) and Dino Naidoo (right) of Woodlands Primary School with Umgeni Water Chief Executive, Cyril Gamede.
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Transcript of umgeni water for upload
SPONSORED FEATURE
ADOZEN under-resourcedschools in KwaZulu-Natal arenow the proud recipients of
brand new comprehensive maths andscience kits – equipment that will notonly benefit current pupils and teachersbut will have an impact further into thefuture of South Africa.
The extraordinary donation wasthanks to Umgeni Water, whichpartnered with Pinetown-basedEdutrade for the initiative.
The symbolic handover of the kitstook place at Umgeni Water’s headoffice boardroom in Pietermaritzburgon Monday, and was attended byrepresentatives from the 12 schools aswell as Edutrade and Umgeni Waterdelegates.
The schools are AmakholwaSecondary, Brettenwood High,Dingizwe High, Siyahlomula High,Ukukhanyakwezwe Secondary,Umlazi Secondary, Bangibizo Primary,Mpumelelo Primary, Mqhathi Primary,Table Mountain Primary, UmlaziJunior Primary and WoodlandsPrimary.
Welcoming the guests, ShamiHarichunder, Umgeni Water’sCorporate Stakeholder Manager, saidthe science and maths kit project hadbeen “a long time in the planning”.
“Our greatest wish is that theseschools put these valuable resources togood use – that they are used to helpchildren better understand the sciences,and that this translates into better examresults.
“Many schools are under-resourcedin South Africa, and while these kitswill not eradicate the backlog, they willhelp in some tangible way to improvethe understanding of science and mathsamong children.”
Umgeni Water CE Cyril Gamede,an engineer who is president of theEngineering Council of South Africaand also chairman of the University ofZululand, said, “Every successfulnation has a basis of science as aprecursor to that success. Against therest of the world, South Africacompares poorly in maths and science,and we have to improve these statistics,starting from primary level. You can’t
just intervene in matric.”To create more engineers for the
future, the pass rate in science andmaths needed to increase. Thatcannot be done only from high schoollevel, he added.
“These science and mathsresources will help make a difference.If more companies became involved ina small way, as Umgeni Water has, itcould make a difference and have aripple effect.”
He said the kits were an excellentstarting point for the future. “Science isquite an abstract subject. Takemagnesium. Many people don’t have aclue what it is, but now that thesechildren and their teachers have thesekits, they can see for themselves whatmagnesium is. They can carry outexperiments with the chemicalsprovided, and actually see what theyare learning about.”
Edutrade’s Nareshini Ranganthancommended Umgeni Water on itsinitiative, saying they were thrilled topartner the facility “on such a beautifulproject”.
“The schools we have chosen,while some are more needy thanothers, all share the same passion toimprove the quality of their maths andscience teaching and their exam marks.Chalk and talk is limited – today,learning has to be hands-on to make adifference.
“Matric level is too late to make adifference, so we looked at primary andsecondary school level when weplanned this project. Maths and sciencemarks and understanding cannot bedone in just one phase. You have tostart from Grades 4 to 7, to establish asolid foundation, and continue thatthrough Grades 8 and 9. So whenpupils have to choose their subjectsthey will have a decent foundation inmaths and science and hopefully, thiswill decrease the drop out rate.”
To make this happen, the resourcekits have been distributed to bothprimary and secondary/high schools, toensure continuity.
Teachers will be fully trained in theuse of the kits, and will be expected toprovide feedback along the way.
NIRASHA Sampson, Manager inthe Office of the Chief Executivesaid the water utility receivednumerous requests for help, but oneof the simplest pleas had touchedtheir hearts. “A school had asked usfor plastic bottles for chemicals.”
When Umgeni Water turned 40last year, CE Cyril Gamede, anengineer who is passionate about thesciences, had determined that as acelebration of the organisation’sbirthday, the utility would focus onproviding some sustainableeducational solutions for childrenand their futures.
“The request for water bottleswas the catalyst – and these 12resource sets will hopefully work assolid building blocks. The recipientschools have varying levels ofresources and equipment, but the
passion shown by the teachers andthe children is impressive.”
A list of schools was drawn upand they were all thoroughlyassessed before being shortlisted,she added. “The handover doesn’tend here. Progress reports will bemade every six months, and theteachers will be trained in the use ofthe kits and the chemicals, forinstance, so we can make sure theyare totally familiar with everythingand fully understand the equipmentand what they are working with.”
The materials within theresource kits, for instance chemicals,are sufficient for at least three years.Schools can order stocks fromEdutrade to replenish the kits whenneeded.
The kits are aligned with thenational curriculum.
IN 2012, Umgeni Water made adecision to adopt a structured approachin its corporate social investment. Itturned its focus to helping improve thequality of education in needy areas andschools, women empowerment andjob creation – and through those,improving the quality of life of peopleliving in the Umgeni Water operationalarea.
Through numerous projects andsponsorships, it has done just that,including rehabilitating and improvinginfrastructure at needy schools (forexample water and sanitation, andupgrading of laboratories).
It has also provided financialassistance to an organisation thatprovides equipment for cataractsurgery for people in disadvantagedareas.
One of Umgeni Water’s main areas
of focus, however, has been oneducation, and through variouschannels, improving the conditionsunder which thousands of children areforced to study.
Shami Harichunder, UmgeniWater’s Corporate StakeholderManager, said: “We are convinced thatour contribution will assist thesechildren – and other recipients – toenhance the conditions in which theyare currenty studying.”
Sustainable job creation is also aCSI priority. Umgeni Water hasassisted a group of people fromMaphephethwa, Inanda, inestablishing a co-op. The organisationhas provided funding to the membersof the co-op to establish a micro-business that will manufactureconcrete products, among them, bricksand blocks that will be sold the the
local community for construction ofhouses. In this way, Umgeni Water hascontributed to the creation ofsustainable jobs and income.
Another similar initiative involvessupporting the establishment of a smallpoultry farming home industriesproject.
Successful communityengagement is a critical success factorfor Umgeni Water during water supplyinfrastructure construction, andinvolves communities participating inthe identification, definition, and jointsolution-seeking with otherstakeholders in issues affecting theirsurroundings. Successful managementof this has resulted in a foundation oftrust being built with communitystakeholders.
This, along with Umgeni Water’sfocus on sustainable projects, as
opposed to “one-offs”, is a priority ofits social responsibility programme –an example being Imvutshane Dam,which it recently built outside Stanger.
“Our legacy to that communitywas the establishment of a soccer field– we also established food gardens forthe community.”
Harichunder said the donation ofthe maths and science kits to the 12needy schools reflected the seriousnesswith which Umgeni Water regards itssocial responsibility – and theimportance of education and learning.
“Science has an extremelyimportant place in our country, and wewant to ensure that by gettinginvolved, forming partnerships withschools, improving and enhancing themanner in which science is studied andcommunicated to pupils, they have abetter understanding of the subjects.”
SCHOOL SCIENCE KITSSCHOOL SCIENCE KITS
UMGENI WATER DONATESLEARNING AIDS TO NEEDY SCHOOLS
Seen at the Umgeni Water Science kit handover to schools are (back row) Thobile Cele, Thobile Makhunga and Nareshini Ranganthan of Edutrade, Cyril Gamede (Chief Executive of Umgeni Water), Doctor Ngema, A Mensah, Victor Duma, Ndumisa Dlamini and Wellington Sikhosana. Front row:VDJ Khamyile, Melusi Khena, Mdumiseni Ndlovu, Siphiwe Mbongwa, Neil Tommy and Felix Duma.
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Shami Harichunder, Umgeni Water’s Corporate Stakeholder Manager.
40th anniversary giftto KZN’s children
Cyril Gamede, Chief Executive of Umgeni Water.
Nirasha Sampson, Manager in the Office of the Chief Executive.
Umgeni Water Chief Executive, Cyril Gamede presents Mdumiseni Ndlovu withSiyahlomula High School’s science resources handover certificate.
Wellington Sikhosana (right) receives Dingizwe High School’s handover certificate fromCyril Gamede.
Neil Tommy (left) and Dino Naidoo (right) of Woodlands Primary School with Umgeni Water Chief Executive, Cyril Gamede.
