Member’s News

BURSARIES FOR LOERIESFONTEIN YOUTH AIM TO BUILD CAPACITY AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES

The Khobab Wind Farm’s bursary programme seeks to provide post-school study opportunities, particularly for local youth.  However, it also has a long term goal.  “It is our hope that our tertiary bursary programme will be able to eventually focus on STEM subjects, such as engineering, accounting and sciences, but until the mathematics and science base grows amongst tertiary school leavers, we are committed to providing opportunities to as many community members as is possible, without being limiting or prescriptive,” said Vanessa Fredericks, Economic Development Manager for Khobab Wind Farm.READ MORE

TRANSFORMING THE ENERGY SECTOR THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING

A study undertaken by the Department of Energy’s IPP office shows that 25% of renewable energy funded-scholarships fall to the Globeleq Scholarship Fund (GSF), which launched in 2014 to help develop young engineering students for the nascent renewable energy industry and actively support the transformation of the industry.READ MORE

WIND FARM SUPPORTS WEST COAST EMERGING FARMER TO AID PRODUCTIVITY AND FOOD SECURITY

Umoya Energy Wind Farm has announced funding for a nearby farm, Theewatersvlei, as well as intensive mentoring and coaching, which will be implemented in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, over the next two years.READ MORE

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS DELIVER ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

March 2019

Partnering with Government to strengthen the knowledge base, and develop the skills within Early Childhood Development Centres is important to ensure that quality learning and teaching takes place.   READ MORE

WIND FARMS ARE BUILDING BRIDGES TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Loeriesfontein Wind Farm and Khobab Wind Farm have announced that they will fund the construction of a bridge to provide a safe link over a dried up river that has divided the communities of Loeriesfontein for many years.

“The dried up river bed runs through the town, leaving a deep gorge that virtually separates the residential area from the main town, creating a physical barrier that hinders hundreds of community members each day, especially young school learners and the aged,” explained Vanessa Fredericks from Loeriesfontein Wind Farm and Khobab Wind Farm.

She added, “Traversing the gorge becomes particularly hazardous during the rainy season, when the riverbank turns to mud as children have to climb through the deep gorge daily to get to school or alternatively they have to walk a very long distance around the residential area to get to the main road.”

The proposed bridge will include a pedestrian path as well as two lanes for motor vehicles.  Whilst the wind farms are financing the construction, the Hantam Municipality has undertaken to maintain the bridge.

The full process is expected to be completed over the next couple of months after which, following the due process, construction will commence.

Local school is achieving great results from reading and spelling programmes

Wilhemina Mathabatha, is one of two reading assistants at Waterworks Primary School in Riverton, Kimberley.  She returned to this small school in 2014, where she was previously a pupil, to help young learners with their reading and spelling, a job that she says has motivated her to study towards a teaching diploma. This school has also recently received accolades for its learners’ spelling progress, in accordance with an international assessment.READ MORE

TERTIARY BURSARIES AIMED AT INCREASING LEVELS OF PROFESSIONALS IN NOUPOORT COMMUNITY

March 2019

Learners from local high schools in Noupoort will have the opportunity to apply for a Noupoort Wind Farm bursary next month, when the 2020 bursary programme is opened to new applicants wanting to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors who are fulfilling their dreams at universities around the country.  READ MORE

READING AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES GO HAND IN HAND

March 2019, Gamtoos Valley Primary, Patensie, Eastern Cape

Libraries across our country will be celebrating ‘SA Library Week’, under the theme of ‘Collaborate @ your library’ between 18^th and 24^th March 2019.  It’s not only an opportunity for them to market their services to the broader community but it also make us aware of the important role that libraries play in our lives, especially for youngsters learning to read.READ MORE

ADDRESSING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT GAPS IN THE SALDANHA BAY LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

Parents in the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality communities of Hopefield, Koperfontein and Green Village are being trained and formal playgroups established to address the lack of access to Early Childhood Development (ECD) services in the region, which leaves a vast number of young children vulnerable. The Playgroup Site Learning Programme aims to build capacity amongst parents to help ensure that children will have increased opportunities to quality learning and caring programmes, resulting in them being better prepared to enter Grade 1.READ MORE

Multi-Faceted approach is needed to make a difference in education

February 2019, De Aar, Northern Cape

Aloicius Marks was studying towards a Degree in Business Administration, at the University of the Free State, when life presented him with an opportunity to make a difference in his home town.  The impact has been so huge that his dream is now to study to become a teacher. Having found his passion, he wants to keep on making a difference to the children he works with; and especially those in his community.READ MORE