Member’s News

IMPACTFUL RENEWABLE ENERGY SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATION AGENDA

The Globeleq Scholarship Fund (GSF), the renewable energy industry’s flagship scholarship programme, which accounts for a sizeable percentage of the industry’s funded scholarships and reaches across the country, has announced the opening of its upcoming 2023 academic year applications. The Fund is open nationally for any national diplomas or BTech degrees in mechatronic or electrical engineering, in addition to select provincial categories, design to benefit specific communities that fall within the renewable energy map.

READ MORE

GRADE 3 LEARNERS BECOME AN ‘AUTHOR FOR A DAY’

Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape, September 2022

In celebration of International Literacy Day, 8 September, school reading assistants across 10 schools in the Kouga area, participated in and facilitated a literacy competition. The initiative forms part of a larger programme that supports the development of young learners, so that they are nurtured and enabled to become independent thinkers, through boosting literacy and numeracy aptitude.

READ MORE

NEW PATIENT TRANSPORT VEHICLE FOR THE LOERIESFONTEIN COMMUNITY

Loeriesfontein community members, health officials and other key stakeholder groups gathered at the handover of a much-needed patient transport vehicle, late last month. The patient transporter will boost the local healthcare system, as it will facilitate transportation to Loeriesfontein community members to access medical services and care.

“The new vehicle has been of great value to us because it allows patients to travel to and from the health facility quicker, waiting periods are shortened and community members get to save money. It is especially beneficial for the elderly, pregnant women, and mothers with small children. We are very grateful for the bus, as it contributes to the optimal delivery of patient care,” said Annie Opperman, Nursing Sister at the CHC.

Funded by Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms, the occasion saw the Department of Health, represented by the Namaqua District Health Manager, Mr Daniel Grootboom and Acting EMS District Manager, Mr Ayabonga Somi, gather to celebrate the delivery of the EMS Patient Transport Vehicle (PTV).

“At present, the CHC is the only healthcare facility in the community, and it is located a distance away from its residents. People, especially the elderly, are unable to walk the distance to receive healthcare services, which is one of the reasons why it was decided to provide this support,” concluded Vanessa Fredericks, Economic Development Manager for Khobab and Loeriesfontein Wind Farms.

This support will benefit the 2 700 community members by providing access to the necessary and appropriate access to healthcare. As a result, the health of the community will be improved, the life expectancy of community members will increase, and chronic conditions can be detected and treated earlier.

IDC EXPLORE WIND SECTOR INDUSTRIALISATION

September 2022, Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa’s accelerated energy transition and its push for sector industrialisation, will be led by increased local manufacturing, with a projected target of well over 55% for government procurement by the end of this decade.  To achieve this, government’s support through policy, smooth procurement and investment will be the key enabler.  Noting this, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), South African government’s development funding agency, which plays a pivotal part in the country’s energy transition and seeks to stimulate increased localisation of renewable energy inputs, has sent a delegation to Spain to visit Nordex SE’s wind turbine manufacturing facilities.READ MORE

SMALL BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS LEADS TO BUSINESS GROWTH

Founded last year by young forward thinking local entrepreneurs who thrive on analysing data to create opportunities for growth and development, Loeriesfontein Data Collection Specialists (LDCS) is a wonderful example of a thriving micro entity in this small rural town.

READ MORE

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME AWARDS BURSARIES TO NEW STUDENTS

September 2022, Witzenberg

Twelve students from communities within the Witzenberg area are direct recipients of a localised scholarship programme, funded by the area’s wind farm which aims to stimulate social change.READ MORE

ECD PRACTITIONERS GRADUATE AND CONTINUE TO UPSKILL

A group of proud Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners, from the Kouga Local Municipal area, accepted their NQF Level 4 Further Education and Training Certificates at a graduation ceremony held in Jeffrey’s Bay this week. Together with an additional intake, the 15 graduates have already commenced the next step in their ECD training journey, a two-year NQF Level 5 National Diploma in ECD.

Gladys Jaffon, a practitioner at Mummy’s Day Care Centre in Ocean View expressed her excitement of having started her studies and being able to provide a better learning experience for the children under her care, “I can’t wait to progress to Level 5 and to make a success in my life and to give the children better-quality learning.”

Since its inception in 2014, the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm ECD Training Programme has provided funding for over 50 practitioners, all of whom teach at ECD centres within the communities of Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, Westin, Thornhill, Sea Vista, Patensie and Hankey.

“The practitioners spoke highly of the quality of the training they had received, and enjoyed every session they attended. The change was clearly evident in the classroom and we hope that the impact will be seen in the children as they progress year on year,” added Caroll Warmberg, Managing Director of the Institute of Training and Education for Capacity building (ITEC), the appointed service provider,  responsible for the implementation of this programme.

“We are pleased that this graduation ceremony coincided with International Literacy Day, which is recognised every year as a reminder of the importance of literacy to ensure dignity and human rights, a sentiment that Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm fervently supports through programmes like this one,” concluded Tsholofelo Moote, Economic Development Specialist for Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.

WIND POWER PUSHES ITS BIODIVERSITY MITIGATION MEASURES

Eastern Cape, September 2022

Positive strides continue to be made by Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm with regards to achieving net gains to critical biodiversity impacted by its operations. Having set up a Biodiversity Advisory Committee, which includes bird specialists, environmentalists and wind farm employees, Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm continues to push its biodiversity agenda.READ MORE

BURSARY PROGRAMME OPENS UP MORE OPPORTUNITIES

August 2022

Youth residing in Noupoort, in the Northern Cape, have once again welcomed the bursary application season, which offers tertiary education funding dedicated to the youth of this small town. Launched in May 2018 to give local Noupoort youth access to tertiary education, the programme has already benefitted eight local youth, who are studying at universities and colleges around the country, including two who have already graduated.

READ MORE

SKILLS TRANSFER PROGRAMME UPSKILLS YOUTH AND BOOSTS ECONOMY

September 2022

Having identified a niche skills gap in rural communities across the three Cape provinces relating to photography and videography, a youth development programme has been launched to upskill a group of 15 youths.  These young people are benefitting from specialised training courses, aimed at upskilling unemployed youth, and boosting small businesses in the multimedia space.

READ MORE