Paper Donation
Printing paper is one supply item that teachers and schools run out of the fastest. Mondi donated a total of 261 boxes of printing paper to schools, crèches and NGOs in the Zululand region in 2021.
Printing paper costs in schools take up a sizeable budget and Mondi’s paper donation helps the schools to redirect this saving to other needs. Schools within Mondi’s area of operation are prioritised.
The schools supported are both primary and high schools. Community based NGOs are also supported, as they play a crucial role in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities.
These projects benefit local communities and also Mondi employees’ children. The aim of this initiative is to support schools in improving the performance of their the learners.
Pass Matric with Mondi
In further supporting teachers and schools to improve students’ learning, Mondi in partnership with the Department of Basic Education has designed study guides – Pass Matric with Mondi.
These study guides provide a condensed version of all the important information the learners need to know in order to do well in their exams.
About 32 500 Pass Matric with Mondi study aids are printed in the ZO, and they are also made available to download and print from the Zululand Observer website. Thousands of Maths & Science grade 12 students have the opportunity to review the two subjects and work through the supplements ahead of their exams. These study guides are distributed annually.
- Over 7 450 learners have access to the study guides
- 40 000 followers on Zululand Observer Facebook page have access to the study guides
- 360 000 website and print
- 5000 supplements delivered to two regional Department circuits
- 1000 copies delivered to Mondi employees
- 5000 copies distributed to Unizulu Science Centre for grade 12 workshops and winter schools
Upgrading of infrastructure in schools
Science involves the seeing, handling, understanding and manipulating of real objects.
To teach this subject effectively, schools need to provide the experiential learning in order to produce a highly skilled and competent scientific and technological labour force, which will in turn provide this country with exceptional scientists, engineers and medical professionals. This is the reason why Mondi has embarked on this project of upgrading science laboratories in previously disadvantage schools.
These projects include: Refurbishment of classrooms, installing furniture, and fitting them with science equipment and laboratory supplies.
The purpose of the project is to provide learners with well-equipped science labs to assist them in intergrading theoretical with practical work, thus improving their understanding of the subject and achieving a positive impact on the pass rate.
Mondi sponsored: Sinqobile High School, Nhlonyane High School and Qakwini High School (SQF). These Mondi sponsored schools have shown a remarkable improvement in Science.
Conditions of the schools directly impacts the performance of students, which is why investing in the school infrastructure is crucial. Mondi in partnership with its contractors has supported schools in rural areas with the needed infrastructure and upgrades.
These projects include:
- building of a kitchen at Nhliziyo High School,
- installation of a fence at Phoziphozi Combined School and
- the renovation of Qalakahle créche in 2021.
Donation of 30 Engineering graphics and design (EGG) tables. The purpose of these upgrade is to provide a clean and safe environment for learning for the children and improve attendance.
Ligbron E-learning
Ligbron E-learning is a system that remotely connects students from rural & underperforming schools by live audio/video streaming. The purpose of the programme is to provide an interactive learning environment for grade 8-12 pupils to improve their marks in mathematics and science.
Learners will be taken through revisions of lessons previously covered by their respective educators. Live classes are held on Monday to Wednesdays. There are currently four schools supported by Mondi, and they have shown steady improvement in Maths and Science.
Mobile Clinic and Toy Library
The Mobile Health and Toy Library project is an integrated early childhood development (ECD) service delivery model using mobile clinics and toy trailers as an entry point to deliver a package of services for young children in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Mondi sponsors two mobile clinics that are pulling two toy libraries, providing play sessions to children aged two to five years.
In 2021, the two Toy libraries reached a total of 1127 children. These Toy Libraries are stocked by two depots filled with educational resources. These Toy libraries are serviced by two Community Workers who were provided skills and are working as Librarian assistants.
Skills Development
To alleviate the financial burden of low income families and to encourage youth to apply at tertiary institutions, Mondi supports deserving learners with bursaries. This is to empower young people to improve the quality of their lives and make a positive impact on their families and the communities.
Mondi is currently sponsoring 48 students with bursaries in partnership with REAP. REAP is a holistic Higher Education Support Programme which assists students from rural areas to succeed at university by providing structured student support and development programme.
Through this programme Mondi is attracting and upskilling talent, investing in youth development and this is to help the business and employment equity objective of employing more local youth. With high unemployment among the youth in this country, there is a need to provide young people with work experience and increase their chances of being employed.
There are different Work Based Programmes at Mondi:
• Post graduate Engineer-In-Training programme:
2x BSc Electrical Engineers
5x BSc Mechanical Engineers
4x BSc Chemical Engineers
• Maintenance Apprenticeship programme:
5x Electricians
8x Fitters
6x Instrumentation Mechanicians
• Pulp & Paper Operator Internship:
37x P&P Technology diplomats.
• Forestry In Training
9 x Foresters
• Work Based Experience
20 x Graduates
