Annual awards shines light on Peermont’s CSI projects
The project assists 700 children across seven centres throughout Ekurhuleni.
Peermont makes a substantial contribution to the communities surrounding its resorts every year, with over R39-million donated in 2017 alone.
On August 17, Emperors Palace hosted the Peermont CSI Awards to celebrate and recognise the CSI projects and the committed individuals who make these community projects a success.
The Peermont CSI programme consists of three pillars and the projects were recognised under each – education and youth development, community infrastructure and entrepreneurial enrichment.
Winners on the evening included 12 bursary graduates, Umfolozi Hotel, Casino and Convention resort who sponsored the innovative “New Africa Education Foundation” and Graceland Hotel, Casino and Country Club who built a much needed school hall for the KI Twala Secondary School.
The Peermont Childrens Trust (PCT) sponsors an After-School Care Programme that provides learners with nutritious meals, adult supervision and a safe environment to do homework.
Learners are also provided with food parcels for the school holidays and school uniforms to encourage them to attend school.
The project assists 700 children across seven centres throughout Ekurhuleni.
Annually the PCT sponsors 250 learners at three Star School sites.
Through this programme, extra lessons in mathematics, English and physical science is provided, producing increased pass rates for these crucial subjects.
It also ensures these learners are better equipped for university.
“Providing disadvantaged children and youth with educational tools and access to quality education remains vitally important to us.
“Our intervention begins from the foundation phase all the way through to university bursaries and vocational training,” comments Tshidi Madima, trust chairperson.
The Peermont Education Trust (PET) sponsors full scholarships for deserving matriculants by offering a mentorship programme and holistic support throughout the student’s tertiary years.
With an 85 per cent graduation rate, the PET has celebrated 120 graduates in various fields of study, including commerce, engineering, medical technology and physics.
“Our programmes provide a natural progression and we have instituted a pipeline that starts with the school years and continues until the youth become economically active, either through full-time employment or by starting their own enterprises,” says Madima.
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As part of the Lesedi programme, the Peermont Community Benefit Trust (PCBT) gives youth from the local community an opportunity to complete a learnership and experiential training at Emperors Palace.
There are currently 32 electricians, plumbers, carpenters and air-conditioning technicians in the programme.
Once the learners have completed their qualification and experiential training, the PCBT assists them to complete a trade test. In addition, the programme provides essential life skills training for learners, including job- seeking skills that ensures a positive and successful outcome of the programme.
The PCBT sponsors the Peermont Hotel School, located at Emperors Palace, where the main focus is to upskill young people and address the high unemployment rate in the local area.
Learners are taught the theory and practical skills for one of three hospitality courses, namely waitron, chef or housekeeping.
The learners are given invaluable practical exposure at Emperors Palace, which will assist them in finding employment in the hospitality and tourism sectors, among the highest growing sectors in the economy. To date over 700 learners have been trained, with over 1 000 learners predicted to complete their qualifications by the end of 2018.
The Ekurhuleni Peermont Chamber of Commerce Trust (EPCoCT) offers funding to small businesses to enable them to reach the next level of growth and thereby become more sustainable.
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MB Wood and Paper won the award for top business for their commitment to create local employment in the Ekurhuleni area.
“Financially supporting small and micro-enterprises and self-help projects uplifts the socio-economic status of marginalised communities, and we are proud of our outstanding people who make it possible for us to lend a helping hand wherever possible,” concludes Madima.
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