Tembisans acknowledged at CSI Awards

Every year Peermont contributes millions of Rands to the communities surrounding its business units, amounting to over R34-million for 2015.

To celebrate and recognise the hard-working people who make these community projects a success, the company held a CSI awards ceremony at Emperors Palace on September 1.

The Peermont CSI programme consists of four pillars, namely education, youth development, environment enrichment and entrepreneurial enrichment, and projects were recognised under each pillar:

“Providing disadvantaged children and youth with educational tools and access to quality education remains vitally important to us.

“Our intervention begins from the foundation phase all the way through to university bursaries and learner career development,” said Mr Vusi Zwane, Peermont Group corporate affairs executive.

“Our programmes have a natural progression and we have instituted a pipeline that starts with the school years and continues until the youth become economically active, either through full-time employment or by starting their own enterprise,” he said.

Knowing that children are unable to concentrate when hungry, the Peermont Childrens’ Trust sponsors an after-school care programme to provide pupils with nutritious meals, adult supervision and space to do homework in a safe environment.

Pupils are also provided with food parcels for the school holidays.

The trust also sponsors school uniforms to vulnerable learners as the lack of a school uniform causes many children to drop out of school.

The project assists 700 children across seven centres throughout Ekurhuleni.

The top practitioner and the best after-care centre were also rewarded at the ceremony.

In order to improve the matric pass rate, Peermont sponsors 450 pupils at three Star School sites each year.

Through this programme, extra lessons in mathematics, English and physical science are provided, producing increased pass rates for these most crucial subjects.

These pupils are in turn invited to apply for a bursary through the Peermont Education Trust.

Peermont, sponsors full bursaries for deserving matriculants from Ekurhuleni.

By offering a mentorship programme and holistic support throughout the student’s tertiary years, the group consistently achieves an 85 percent graduation rate.

To date, the trust has celebrated 114 graduates in various fields of study, including commerce, engineering, medical technology and physics..

Seven graduates were recognised at the September 1 event, including Tembisa’s Dirontsho Skhosana, who graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with an MBBCH in 2015.

As part of the Lesedi programme, Peermont gives youth from the local community an opportunity to complete a learnership and their experiential training at one of Africa’s leading leisure and entertainment destinations, Emperors Palace.

There are currently 30 electricians, plumbers and aircon technicians training on site.

Once the learners have completed their qualification and experiential training, the trust assists them with their trade test.

The rogramme also provides essential life skills training for learners and assists them with jobLseeking skills that ensures a positive and successful outcome of the programme.

Four young Tembisa residents, Sboniso Myeni, Given Molefe, Clinton Sekate and Tshepo Mbhalati have been a part of the Lesedi programme and successfully completed their NQF Level 4 and were recognised at the CSI Awards.

In May 2016, Peermont opened its very own hotel school in order to upskill young people and address the high unemployment amongst the youth in the Ekurhuleni area.

Students are taught the theory and practical skills for one of three courses, waitron, chef or housekeeping.

The students are given practical exposure at Emperors Palace which is invaluable and will assist them in finding jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors, among the highest growing sectors in the economy.

Over 1 000 students will be trained in the next three years.

Numerous youngsters from Tembisa have already been trained at the hotel school since its opening. Mmathabo Kgasi is one of the top achievers among the first intake, resulting in her being acknowledged for her efforts at the CSI Awards, where she was named Top Waitron.

The next group of learners are currently being selected for the courses at the Hotel School and any aspiring chefs, waitrons or housekeepers can visit www.celo.co.za to find out how to apply.

Financially supporting small and micro-enterprises and self-help projects uplifts the socio-economic status of marginalised communities. Peermont’s Entrepreneurial Development trust provides grants funding to budding businessmen and businesswomen.