Illovo Sugar South Africa and Tiger Brands, both leaders in the FMCG sector, have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at contributing meaningfully to the communities in which they operate.
As the Illovo Sugar funded STEM Academic programme continues, the nutrition programme is sponsored by Tiger Brands to one of our adopted schools, Sobantu Secondary.
On Saturday, 09 May, the official launch of this collaboration was announced to the school, learners and community.
In attendance was the Department of Education represented by Chief Education Specialist, Bongani Simelane, to welcome the collaboration. “We truly appreciate the support we receive from businesses such as Illovo. You remain true to educational development and your commitment goes far beyond corporate social investment.” Bongani shared. With many of the learners coming from a disadvantaged background, it is crucial that they learn on a full stomach, he expanded.
Lindiwe Khuzwayo, Head of Corporate Affairs at Illovo, insisted that corporate companies want to be welcomed by the communities they operate in. “Sobantu High School is our neighbour. Thus, it is important that we build value-driven relationships with our neighbours and our peers in order to achieve outcomes like these. With this partnership, we want students to commit to their studies and pass well without having to worry about hunger,” Lindiwe professed.
Maanda Milubi, Enterprise & Supplier Development Director at Tiger Brands, encouraged the students to look at their STEM subject choice not as a means to an end but as a tool to prepare for a tech-driven future. “If you’ll be solving problems for KZN’s future, it’s about equipping yourself with tools that will allow you to take your ideas and apply them practically in a way that will be tangible to people and solve problems,” Maanda encouraged. All the students enrolled in the programme were gifted a goodie bag prepared by both Illovo and Tiger Brands.
