Sasol Energy Business showcases opportunities for young people at the Learner Focus Week in Cape Town
Sasol joined other industry giants in the Energy and Mining industries, to showcase opportunities for young people and encourage learners to pursue studies that lead to careers in STEM. This initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), saw over 250 pre-selected learners from across the country make their way to the University of Cape Town for a 7-day programme for the Learner Focus Week (LFW) from 08-14 July 2023.
This programme is primarily targeted at learners who attend rural and township schools, as they wouldn’t ordinarily have access to the valuable information that is imparted by industry role players at the Learner Focus Week, due to various socio-economic ills. The attendees, who are top performers from Grades 10-12 at the various disadvantaged schools immersed themselves into an innovative science project aimed to solve some of the challenges that are faced today by the energy and mining sectors. This deep dive into practical application of theory ensured that there was a good balance and alignment between what the learners study in class versus what the industry needs. The successful project teams that demonstrated the most innovative solutions to real-life problems were awarded with various prizes including bursaries, funded by the various stakeholders within the industry.
According to Abey Tau, Social Investment Manager: Energy Business, “The support by Sasol to the DMRE’S Learners Focus Week over the years has been and remains a vital part of our social impact strategy”. “Being a mining and energy sector leader that fuels job creation and economic growth in the country and also contributes significantly to the country’s GDP, we view it as our responsibility to help enlighten the need for a match between labour market supply and demand” he added.
At the exhibition stand, Sasol showcased the Green Hydrogen Production and the H2 Fuel Cell Technology Demonstration Models as well as the Sasol Secunda Operations Virtual Reality (VR) plant tour. The team also assisted the learners with applying for the Sasol Foundation Bursaries, which are open until 21 August 2023.
Over fifty of the learners and teachers also got an opportunity to visit the Sasol Fuels Application Centre (SFAP), a world-class research and development facility situated in Muizenberg, Cape Town. During this technical excursion, the learners got to learn more about how the Research & Development team assesses the impact that the Sasol products have on vehicles, which includes a range of synthetic and crude oil derived fuels using the most advanced engine testing and emissions measurement technologies. This centre ensures that Sasol continuously improves its offering and competes with the world’s best fuels research facilities.
The Learner Focus Week concluded with a dinner and awards ceremony, where the science competition winners were announced. A total of thirty-five bursaries were awarded to the learners by the different companies. When asked what their highlight was, most of the learners echoed the same sentiments, that LFW will be an unforgettable experience, one that will shape the trajectory of many of their lives.
Click here to see more of Sasol South Africa’s social investment initiatives or reach out to our Corporate Social Responsibility team to learn about upcoming events here csr@sasol.com.
