{"id":133382,"date":"2019-03-21T04:53:22","date_gmt":"2019-03-21T02:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/access-to-education-isnt-a-privilege-its-a-basic-human-right-mzwandile-inspires-a-new-generation-of-learners\/"},"modified":"2019-03-21T04:53:22","modified_gmt":"2019-03-21T02:53:22","slug":"access-to-education-isnt-a-privilege-its-a-basic-human-right-mzwandile-inspires-a-new-generation-of-learners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/access-to-education-isnt-a-privilege-its-a-basic-human-right-mzwandile-inspires-a-new-generation-of-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"Access to education isn\u2019t a privilege, it\u2019s a basic human right \u2013 Mzwandile inspires a new generation of learners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Access to education isn\u2019t a privilege, it\u2019s a basic human right \u2013 Mzwandile inspires a new generation of learners<\/a>: <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mzwandile Harmans<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Raised by his aunt and uncle after his parents passed away at a young age, Mzwandile Harmans attended a poor school in Cala, the heart of the rural Eastern Cape. It was his matric year; but with limited resources at Masikhuthale Public Secondary school, the pass rate was low and the learning environment less than ideal for conscientious learners.<\/p>\n

Then one day a teacher came round to talk about Engen’s Maths and Science Schools (EMSS) programme, and everything changed for this talented young man who was determined to realise his full potential.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were given a chance to take a test to qualify for the EMSS Cala programme. The programme offered supplementary classes in maths, science and English, which ran every Saturday morning, but was 25 kilometres away,\u201d remembers Mzwandile. \u201cFortunately, I took it seriously and I got in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making the long round trip every weekend to attend the programme saw a steady improvement in Mzwandile\u2019s maths, chemistry, and physics marks, so much so that he was awarded a full Engen scholarship to study Chemical Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).<\/p>\n

Mzwandile later impressed with his tertiary studies and after two-years was offered a one-year internship at the Engen Refinery in Durban, which he passed with distinction. On graduating from CPUT, he landed a two-year employment contract with Engen, as part of the company\u2019s graduate development programme.<\/p>\n

Today, Mzwandile is permanently employed as an Environmental Technician at the Engen Refinery. \u201cI am so grateful to Engen for all of this,\u201d says Mzwandile. \u201cI never thought it could happen to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Engen\u2019s Head of Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement, Unathi Magida says access to education is a fundamental human right. \u201cThis resonates particularly with Engen as a company, as we believe in the value of education and know how important it is to ensure that young people have the opportunity to realise their full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chwayita Mareka, Engen\u2019s Head of Human Resources, says the company\u2019s investment in young talent has focused on the Maths and Science Saturday Schools because they understand the bigger country agenda.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Engen, we try and play our part in helping to develop South African’s talent pool, as there is a scarcity of Science, Maths and Engineering skills. We offer bursaries for students to go to universities in these fields and we look after them, especially if they are from disadvantaged communities,\u201d says Mareka.<\/p>\n

\u201cLater, they come into Engen as graduate trainees as part of our graduate development programme wherein we assign them a mentor that exposes them to the real business,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

Mzwandile\u2019s journey is just one of many inspirational Engen stories that will be shared as part of a new TV series that aims to create a positive narrative around South Africa\u2019s success stories. The SA INC. TV series which launches on 7 April is a partnership between Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), Brand South Africa and producers, Regency Global.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Engen, we strongly believe that a country which is educated is a country that will prosper. We are pleased to play a part in helping to develop South Africa talent, especially our young learners based in rural areas,\u201d says Magida<\/p>\n

To watch Mzwandile\u2019s story please visit the website https:\/\/regency.global\/engen\/ and the following hashtags: #JourneyWithEngen #BusinessBelieves #SAINC #humanrightsday #awesomesouthafrica #sustainability #livesouthafrica #weheartsa.<\/p>\n

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