CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT (CSI) INITIATIVES
The V-Tech Foundation aims to enhance or improve the educational conditions of V-Tech’s own employees children, thus creating lifelong friendships and fuelling optimism in a world where daily headlines are filled with awful news. These days optimism is in short supply and the V-Tech Foundation is set to ensure that for these individuals life can get better. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela
The latest numbers from the Department of Basic Education, 9 January 2018, show that 12% of all pupils were repeating a grade in 2015. The department has suggested that this is due to the “inability of many schools to get teaching and learning right and the burden of home background disadvantage”.
The power of education is undeniable across the world, both socially and personally, in both developing and developed countries. It is with this in mind that V-Tech launched the “V-Tech Foundation” to improve or enhance the educational opportunities for our own employees and their children.
SURVIVE AND THRIVE
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you” – B.B King
Education is the key to alleviating global poverty, helping individuals uplift themselves and their families and achieving sustained community transformation.
V-TECH BELIEVES
That the path out of poverty begins with access to a decent education. The V-Tech Foundation will ensure that especially those with the fewest resources—can access the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.
V-Tech understands the importance of education and the Foundation is about helping low-income families to get the same opportunities as everyone else.
THE V-TECH FOUNDATION
Only employees earning below a certain income level may benefit from the subsidy awarded by the V-Tech Foundation. The beneficiaries must be direct family of the employee and certain criteria must be met to qualify. The subsidy is reviewed on an annual basis based on the individual submissions and motivations and the progress of the beneficiaries. Funds are paid directly to the institution.
“We have made education the focus of the Foundation because it’s the key to a prosperous future, for both individuals and the country”, says Dr Johan Oosthuyse, V-Tech CEO. “We support early learning, secondary and tertiary institutions including school fees, stationary and books, uniforms and transport to and from school. With the high drop out rate due to many reasons, including economic, social and academic, it is imperative that we support our V-Tech family to help individuals to become agents of change in service to their peers, their families and their communities”. He goes on to say, “Our goal is for all our employee’s children to attend school, complete school and to do well. This will prepare them and equip them to pursue their dreams, making a better life for themselves and their families”.
The time for change is upon us and we all have a role to play to create and contribute to the country we believe in. I believe everyone has the capability to collaborate and join hands to bring about meaningful change – Cyril Ramaphosa
* South Africa’s matric pass rate obscures dropout rate | Africa Check. [ONLINE] Available at:
https://africacheck.org/spot-check/south-africas-matric-pass-rate-obscures-dropout-rate/.
* The flaw in SA’s ‘real’ matric pass rate figure (as calculated by the EFF & DA) | Africa Check. [ONLINE] Available at:
https://africacheck.org/spot-check/the-flaw-in-sas-real-matric-pass-rate-figure-as-calculated-by-the-eff-da/.
