Kolomela has given 54 bursaries to learners from the Blinkklip, Ratang Thuto and Postmasburg high schools since 2011 to develop, prepare and enable them for tertiary studies to follow any career they dream, and hopefully, to join the Kumba talent pool when they complete their studies.
As part of the bursary programme, participants will do a reading course as well as English, Mathematics and Science classes to aid their cognitive development. Emotional development courses throughout the year will also be provided to enable them to, among other things, motivate themselves and effectively cope with pressure. Furthermore, in order for them to develop their career interest and provide exposure to engineering, geology and surveying, they will attend the University of Pretoria's engineering week, go on a mine tour and do career guidance psychometric assessments. Health assessments are also provided as part of physical support.
This year, the programme is available to any learner from these schools from Grade 9 to Grade 12 who achieved more than 60% for Mathematics and Physical Science at the end of the previous year. With this scholarship, learners have the opportunity to receive cognitive, emotional and social support that will aid in improving school achievement in order for them to study after school.
Aart van den Brink, general manager of Kolomela mine, notes that Kumba is committed to furthering social development of the communities around its operations. "We are committed to contributing to the steady supply of suitably quali?ed professionals from Postmasburg in future as well as providing access to high-quality training, which is a key attraction and retention tool for us as a company. Uplifting the youth by providing a bursar programme like this, is one of the Kumba's strategic initiatives, and we are proud of the successes that this programme has already demonstrated."
