Friday 11 September 2015 saw PPC employees at the company’s Jupiter plant welcome 30 learners from New Nation School to the factory for a day of fun, learning and new experiences.
Designed to showcase career opportunities in the industry, as well as share information about PPC’s bursary scheme, the day’s event comprised a ‘behind-the-scenes’ visit of the plant, career conversations with site employees, and an opportunity to enjoy team-building activities including giant Jenga (sponsored by Worx Group).
The day was inspired by an internal event in July this year when PPC’s CEO Darryll Castle, and other PPC executives and board members spent a day at Time for Change (TFC) – a shelter located in the Johannesburg CBD which PPC has a longstanding relationship with and that supports many of the students at New Nation.
The New Nation School was started in Johannesburg by the late Solly Molekwe as part of his dream to educate homeless children. Learners who attend the school come from disadvantaged backgrounds, living in various shelters in and around Johannesburg, including Time for Change. “As such, most of them do not readily have opportunities to be directly exposed to the career options available to them in industries such as our own,” says Francie Shonhiwa, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at PPC. “Today was thus all about empowering them with information that they can use to shape new futures for themselves, and opening their realm of experience to new possibilities.”
With the Learners Career Day bringing smiles to the faces of learners and PPC team members alike, Shonhiwa foresees this to be the start of many similar events to come. “Our ability to build a sustainable future for our company and country is directly related to how we empower and motivate our youth. Today gave PPC an opportunity to bring our brand promise of ‘Our strength. Your vision’ to life in a completely new way for these learners. We look forward to continuing to play a meaningful role in their life journeys going forward.”
