Coca-Cola take mentorship programme to Tembisa community
'Some parents don’t have enough knowledge, both academically and socially. That is where we come in as mentors to assist their children'
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) took a mentorship programme to the community which will guide young people into becoming good citizens.
Children from different schools took part in the event on February 21 at Ebony Park and they were motivated by industry experts who encouraged them to be dedicated and work hard in their studies.
CCBSA has taken it upon itself to be part of solutions in building better communities by initiating a soul ambassador programme where some of CCBSA’s employees are encouraged to set up projects that are aimed at developing the communities they live in.
On the mentorship programme day, each soul ambassador volunteered to take two students, who are going to be their mentees, on academic assistance and solving social challenges.
Ikamva Youth Ebony Park’s branch co-ordinator, Michael Thema, said the mentors (soul ambassadors) will assist learners to improve the current state of their desired future. He said a mentor will help learners to identify post matric opportunities.
“Mentors will help with career guidance. They will assist learners in job shadowing and also support mentees to find solutions to their social problems,” said Thema.
He said the mentorship programme is crucial to building learner confidence.
“We are grateful that CCBSA is not only sponsoring us but they have also committed to doing more in assisting Ikamva Youth learners.”
Soul ambassador and CCBSA’s warehouse administrator Elsie Lekhooa said this is going to be a learning curve for her as it is her first time mentoring someone.
“This is going to be a challenge for both the learner and the mentor but we will overcome it because we will be working towards the same goal. I am looking forward to helping my two mentees to realise their goals academically and moulding them into better citizens socially,” said Lekhooa.
CCBSA’s quality controller and soul ambassador Mmatlodi Magagane said the CCBSA’s initiative is a very good one because many children need guidance and someone to confide in when they are faced with social problems.
“Some parents don’t have enough knowledge, both academically and socially. That is where we come in as mentors to assist their children.
“The social and academic life need to balance. Children who are socially happy perform well at school. Both the mentor and the mentee need to put in an effort to make the mentorship relationship successful. I am excited and I’m looking forward to working with my two mentees,” Magagane said.
Georgette Naidoo, CCBSA’s corporate investment specialist for the Gauteng region, said CCBSA has been working with Ikamva Youth for five years already and the engagement has seen beneficiaries achieve a 97 per cent pass rate at the Ebony Park Ikamva Youth branch.
She said the programmes CCBSA conduct with Ikamva Youth are aimed at developing the youth and ensuring that learners obtain a good matric pass rate.
“Today we have brought the mentorship programme where we encourage CCBSA’s employees to assist learners.
“The employees who volunteer to mentor are soul ambassadors who are encouraged and supported to go into their own communities and make a difference.
“Every year each CCBSA employee is given a day they can use to assist a community,” said Naidoo.
She said the soul ambassador is expected to initiate a project, plan for the project, apply for funds from CCBSA and engage the support of other employees and other soul ambassadors.
“This is meant to increase employee participation rate in community development.
“We have been successful and we have extended the campaign to focus on employees who are a lot more passionate about environmental stewardship,” Naidoo explained.
She added that a soul ambassador is someone who is passionate about community development and giving back. Someone who has a passion for others and is constantly involved in community wellness-related activities.
