The Peermont is proud to announce that the company celebrated the wonderful work conducted within the local communities, at a prestigious awards gala dinner held last week Tuesday, 25 August 2015 at Emperors Palace.
The inception of the awards, dubbed ‘the Oscars’ of the CSI world, will celebrate and recognize the hard working people that make Peermont CSI community projects a success. Each year, Peermont contributes millions of rands, over R24 million in 2014, to the communities surrounding their business units.
The Peermont CSI programme consists of 4 pillars and projects will be recognized under each of the following pillars: Education, Youth Development, Environment Enrichment and Entrepreneurial Enrichment.
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“Providing disadvantaged children and youth with educational tools and access to quality education remains a vital and important aspect of our business. The levels of learning start from the foundation phase and continue through to university through bursaries and learner career development.” says Vusi Zwane, Peermont Group Corporate Affairs Executive. “Our programmes have a natural progression and we have instituted a pipeline that starts with the foundation school years and continues until the youth become economically active, either through full-time employment or by starting through own businesses,” added Zwane.
In 2013 Peermont introduced the “Izimbewu Ze Themba” project aimed at preparing Grade R children for formal education while improving their capacity to develop life-long learning dynamics for the rest their lives. The project seeks to uplift the Grade R teaching and learning experience and is currently being rolled out in 4 schools, Reahile Primary, R P Mapanzela Primary, Fortune Kunene Primary, and Nageng Primary, in the Katlehong and Vosloorus areas. About 330 children benefit from this programme under the professional care of 10 practitioners.
Peermont introduced the after-school care programme aimed at catering for the needs of about 700 children (some are orphans or come from child-headed families) by creating a safe learning environment for them. The after-school programme’s core activity is a feeding scheme that provides these children with healthy and high nutrition meals including during school holiday. The programme also supplies children with school uniforms.
“We believe that our involvement in the early childhood education is an appropriate investment that aids in children’s development, contributing to long term benefits for both the child and the community,” concluded Zwane.
In order to improve the matric pass rate, Peermont also sponsors 250 learners at Star Schools with extra lessons in Mathematics, English and Physical Science.
Peermont School Support Programme (PSSP)
With a goal of 60/60 by 2015, the PSSP project offer learners and educators behaviour change management and leadership skills as well as exposure to Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), all designed to undertake the PSSP programme through 7 high schools and 19 feeder primary schools by investing in MacBook’s, cameras, iPads and computer labs.
Peermont Lesedi Skills Programme
Peermont provides youth from the local community an opportunity to work while they learn at one of Africa’s leading leisure and entertainment destinations, Emperors Palace. The experience the students gain is invaluable and assists them in finding jobs in the hospitality and tourism sector, one of the highest and fastest growing sectors in the country’s economy. A total of nine professional cookery students and 12 electrical learners will receive their certificates at the awards ceremony. All training provided is accredited and learners are offered the opportunity to complete their trade tests at a later stage.
The Lesedi Programme also provides essential life skills training for students and assists them with job seeking skills to ensure a positive and successful outcome of the programme.
Peermont Bursary Programme
Peermont Education Trust sponsors full bursaries for matriculants from disadvantaged backgrounds, with no obligation to repay the bursary or work for Peermont upon completion of their studies. By offering a mentorship programme and holistic support throughout the students’ tertiary years, the Trust achieves a 87% throughput rate and 98% employment rate. The Trust celebrates 110 graduates to date. Two graduates will be recognised at the awards ceremony. Themba Mnguni is a University of the Witwatersrand graduate with an LLB and is currently serving articles at one of South Africa’s most respected and prestigious law firm, Edward Nathan Sonnenberg. Mbuti Lumata, a MBBcH graduate from Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa) currently serving his residency at Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp.
Graceland Hotel Casino and Country Club, a subsidiary of Peermont, celebrates two graduates from their bursary programme, Bongumusa Mavusa, who graduated with a National Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the Vaal University of Technology and is currently serving his internship at Sasol.
Community Policing
Improving infrastructure, safety and social services is another priority of the company. These Peermont CSI initiatives consist of community support and financial investments to the surrounding areas in which we operate.
• Winnie Mandela settlement crime fighting project
Entrepreneurial Enrichment
Financially supporting small and micro-enterprises and self-help projects uplifts the socio-economic status of marginalised communities. Our Entrepreneurial Development pillar provides grant-funding to these budding businessmen and businesswomen.
• Incubation hub located at the Ekurhuleni Business Facilitation Network (EBFN) centre, Kempton Park
• Funding of the broadcast equipment for the community radio station, the Voice of Tembisa.
Vermi Trade plant was formed and established in 2008 with the generous grant funding assistance from the Ekurhuleni Peermont Chambers of Commerce Trust for vermibins, vermifeed, earthworms, harvesting machine, computer and infrastructure set up costs. The company manufactures vermicast from agricultural waste and currently produces 5000 tons of vermicast annually. Vermi Trade prides itselg in assiting with raising awareness among farmers, researchers and policy makers in South Africa about regenerative food production methods.
Why The Business Place
The Ekurhuleni Business Facilitation Network is a partnership with Peermont, Chambers of Commerce Trust (EPCoCT) and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM). The Business Place, a non-profit company, was appointed to establish and manage a one-stop entrepreneurial support centre on behalf of the joint venture of EMM and EPCoCT. The company operates from a building donated by EMM and was converted into an entrepreneurial development hub. The hub has three elements included in the model;
• A Small Business Development Centre
Co-ordinated business support, business incubation, mentorship, supply chain linkages with respect to procurement and tenders, facilitation of small business funding and business training.
• An Investment Centre
Provision of investment opportunities within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, for business operating in the area.
• Aerotropolis
Co-ordinated planning of the Aerotropolis master plan.
For further information visit www.peermont.com or call 011 557 0557, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @peermont.
