JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 28 June 2021 – Over many years, Samsung has focused heavily on skills development and bursary programmes designed to make a meaningful difference, by empowering the youth of the country.  These programmes include the Samsung Engineering Academies across Africa, which have already seen thousands of students graduate with hands-on, practical skills at no cost, enabling them to move into jobs after they graduate. The multi-million-rand Empowering Tomorrow Bursary Programme* has also afforded dozens of deserving students the opportunity to pursue their ambitions of furthering their studies at reputable tertiary institutions.

Samsung spoke to two beneficiaries of these programmes:

Nongcibelani Mashilo | Empowering Tomorrow Bursary Sponsorship

About Nongcibelani: I was born at the beginning of the millennium and therefore technology has been a big part of my life from a very young age. Growing up, I saw us moving in the technological era from ‘box’ television sets to the latest 8K resolution ‘flat-screen’ TVs. Funny enough, my very first smartphone was a Samsung S3 Mini, which still functions almost 8 years later. I was also fortunate enough in primary and high school to have had a basic introduction to the use of a computer and Delphi coding.  Although the career path I have chosen might be challenged by artificial intelligence technology, we have been reassured that you cannot teach a computer ‘ethical reasoning’, but can still make use of certain tools such as Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATs) to relieve your workload. With these type of insights, and with many of us working remotely, we all learnt about the major role technology plays in our lives. This excites me.

How did Samsung impact your life?

The funding has been a critical part of my life as it has helped me continue my studies towards a BCom Accounting Sciences degree at the University of Pretoria. This is a stepping-stone towards my dream of becoming a registered auditor in possession of a doctorate degree in the future.

What have been the major highlights of your bursary journey?

The biggest highlight of my journey is being invited to the bursary launch at the Samsung head office in 2019. The networks I have built with individuals I met through this programme are still going strong. Additionally, seeing that when you Google ‘Mohau Mashilo’, an article where a speech I had delivered earlier this year had been quoted by Samsung appears on the results page. This really makes me feel honoured that my story has somewhat touched many lives. As ambitious as it may sound, I hope to one day be an employee at Samsung South Africa and be part of an entity that is making a difference in young people’s lives.

What are your future ambitions?

I am currently completing my final year of BCom Accounting Sciences at the University of Pretoria. I have always had a passion of giving back to the community and I had always hoped that one day I will be able to reduce unemployment by opening my own auditing firm, as well as empower the youth to create sustainable ways to create an income, with or without a formal education. I also hope to one day in my personal capacity, be able to finance underprivileged students’ fees the same way Samsung has done for me.

Sabelo Enock Luthuli | Samsung Engineering Academy Student

About Sabelo: The electronics sector fills me with anticipation as it has huge opportunities for young people interested in the field. I have spent a lot of time thinking of how I can use my electronic skills to create a better life and assist my family financially. My passion is to open my own company that will focus on maintenance for home appliances. This may also present the chance to transfer these skills within my community and empower other young kids.

What part of the ICT sector inspires you?

Since electronics isn’t only about maintenance, I want to create something amazing, like Elon Musk. I think the skills I received from the Samsung Engineering Academy for designing electronic circuits will be advantageous for me. I would also like to use this opportunity to see if I can use the lessons in a telecommunication network space, since there are huge opportunities for youth in TVWS network installations. This could make a difference in rural areas as many people there have little to no access to stable data connection.

How do you think the Samsung Engineering Academies make a difference?

As a beloved and successful company, they inspire me to commit to completing my studies, become a businessman who is a great team player and use my new-found skills to benefit the people around me. I’m already excited to be able to make extra money by fixing home appliances such as Smart TV’s, Microwaves, DVDs, amplifiers and cell phones. I am deeply grateful to the academy for putting me on a journey of great discovery.

In the rapidly changing technological landscape, Samsung South Africa will continue to create programmes and opportunities for young people, who continue to be inspirations for a better tomorrow.

*Samsung has awarded 21 Million Rands in bursaries over three years

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 24 May 2021 – In 2018 Samsung South Africa launched its ‘Empowering Tommorrow’ bursary initiative. Now in its third successful year, 21 Million Rands in bursaries have been awarded to deserving students, who have been able to pursue a career in the fields of electronics, engineering, commerce, retail, sales and marketing. The bursaries were awarded to students of the University of Pretoria, North-West University, University of Johannesburg and the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA), which is an agency of the Gauteng Department of Education, responsible for promoting skills development in the Gauteng City region. The GCRA identifies and selects the deserving students and administers the bursaries on Samsung’s behalf. Each of the bursaries cover the cost of one year’s study in the student’s selected field at their preferred institution of higher learning, including the provision of books, accommodation, meals and electronic devices. This is part of Samsung’s wide-ranging efforts to uplift learners and students in the country.

Almost a hundred youth from deserving communities have benefited each year from the bursary programme. Additionally, the best-performing students get the opportunity to work at Samsung as part of a leadership programme, further preparing them for a career in the ICT sector. The Samsung Empowering Tomorrow bursary initiative is aligned with Samsung’s global mission ‘Enabling People’, which is aimed at helping people discover and develop their innate potential.

Most of these students, although top performers in university, are unable to pay for their university education and there is no guarantee that they will qualify for the South African government’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The Empowering Tomorrow initiative provides welcome relief. In 2021, the beneficiaries of the Samsung bursary programme were also offered psycho social support. This entails resilience training, life skills and support on how to meet  social challenges that could affect their learning at university.

A very ambitious Ms. Mohau Mashilo is one one the students who benefited from the bursary programme. She says, “I matriculated from Sutherland High School after being severely injured during my matriculation year. During that period, I was out of school for about five months and had to undergo over a dozen medical procedures, extensive physio therapy, learn how to walk again and how to regain mobility in my left hand. Unfortunately, over time, my left hand was declared disabled. I was however approved ready to return to school in September 2018, even though I had not fully recovered. Many encouraged me to postpone writing my matric exams to the following year. However, I was too determined to get to university. Much to my naysayers’ surprise, I received several distinctions at the end of my matric year. The GCRA and Samsung partnership could not have come a better time for my family and I. Initially, I was oblivious of our financial situation at home and always assumed that my parents would be able to pay for my fees. However, the unexpected accident crippled my parents financially as we had depleted our medical savings and all sorts of credit facilities had to be raised to finance the many medical bills. The offer to study in any field, and at a university of my choice enabled me to enroll for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Pretoria. I am proud to say that I have continuously performed well, consistently achieving at least six discintions in each year of my studies. I am now in my final year and am looking forward to furthering my studies to become Dr. Mohau Mashilo. I am grateful to my family who supported me during my recovery and to the GCRA and Samsung for the full bursary.  Again, I say to my naysayers – look at me now!”

The Empowering Tomorrow bursary programme will continue to seek out resilient and talented students such as Ms. Mashilo. The money will not only fund these students’ education, Samsung has also pledged to seek out possible employment opportunities for these deserving students. The on-going funding of students is dependent on the academic performance of the students as per the GCRA policy. The bursary is awarded for one year but could be renewed annually subject to the academic performance of the bursary recipient.

“We are continuously working to build on and expand the programmes we offer to young people across South Africa. Samsung is still committed to improving the use of IT technology in education, providing access to smarter learning environments to support the students’ creativity and to reduce the digital divide. We continue to strive to reduce local education gaps and turn potential into power,” says Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.  “We are pleased to announce that we will continue with the Samsung Bursary programme in 2021,”  says Shivanda.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 08 April 2021 – At a ceremony, held in Johannesburg on the 6th of April, Samsung awarded bursaries, totalling R2,7 million, to 30 talented young students. The event was hosted by the Premier of Gauteng, Mr David Makhura and the MEC for Education and Youth Development, Mr Panyaza Lesufi. The multimillion rand award is the third consecutive year of Samsung ‘s bursary investment to the Gauteng Department of Education. Since inception, a total of R21 million has been donated by Samsung though this programme to various academic institutions of higher learning, including the Gauteng Department of Education.

The students are residents of Gauteng and study in various universities across the country. The Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA), an agency of the Gauteng Department of Education, identifies, selects the deserving students and administers the bursaries on Samsung’s behalf. The full bursary covers the cost of one year’s study in their selected field at their preferred institution of higher learning, including the provision of electronic devices. The bursaries are awarded to graduates pursuing a career in the fields of electronics, engineering, commerce, retail, sales and marketing.

“As Samsung we believe that education, mentorship and on-the job training can open new doors for the young people of this country. Working together with the students, higher institutions of learning and Government, we can dedicate the necessary resources and time to create endless possibilities, while inspiring our youth to take their place at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is with great pride that we partner with the Gauteng Department of Education to ensure that we can empower our country’s youth to fulfil their potential,” says Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.

The money will not only fund these students’ education but Samsung has also pledged to seek out possible employment opportunities for these deserving students. The on-going funding of students is dependent on the academic performance of the students as per the GCRA policy. The bursary is awarded for one year but could be renewed annually subject to the academic performance of the bursary recipient. The bursaries include various areas of support to ensure successful outcomes. These include quarterly support meetings with Samsung and student liaison officers as well as academic, personal and career guidance through individual coaching and academic tutoring.

“Samsung will continue to pursue opportunities that give the youth of South Africa the tools and support to become meaningfully engaged in the economy and pursue their dreams,” concluded Shivanda.