We aim to provide the necessary tools that will enable learners to contribute to society in a more meaningful way, by either being gainfully employed or by starting their own businesses. We invest in communities so that they can be able to sustain themselves socio-economically, beyond our involvement.
This focus area also aims to create a pool of future professional in some of the areas that are identified by government as critical skills areas. This is mainly done through partnerships with educational institutions, like WITS.
BP have partnered with WITS TTP on a programme that aims to increase the academic, social and psychological preparation of selected learners from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds for admission to, enrolment and success at South African Universities.
BP’s initial investment towards the programme was R10m, and BP has made the commitment to invest a further R105m to keep the programme running for the next five years. That makes WITS TTP BP’s flagship social responsibility project for the next decade.
Learners are selected from disadvantaged schools across the country while they are in Grade 10, placed in the programme for 3 years, and supported until they sit for their Matric examinations.
The three year preparation involves a residential academic enrichment curriculum, where learners are taught by WITS University lecturers, a residential personal development skills curriculum, a residential educator development curriculum, and a mathematics and science redress curriculum.