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Wood drives STEM education at The Chevron Championship
As part of our Global Education Cause, Wood is celebrating 15 years of support for Tomorrow Trust, a non-profit organisation founded to empower orphaned and vulnerable children and youth in South Africa through quality education.
As one of the longest running supporters of Tomorrow Trust, Wood has dedicated donations, volunteer efforts, mentoring time and job shadowing opportunities to the organisation. Through Wood’s sponsorship and support of the organisation’s Senior Saturday and Holiday School Programme:
926
learners completed their National Senior Certificate
92%
of these learners had an overall pass rate
75%
of these learners achieved a Bachelor's Degree
How has Wood supported the Tomorrow Trust?
In local offices, Wood has invited students to join the team as interns following the completion of graduate programmes, exposing them to a day in the life of an engineer or project manager and allowing them to put their learned skills into practice.
Mark Hellman, Vice President Oil, Gas and New Energies, Africa, shared: “It has been a real pleasure to support the Tomorrow Trust for the past 15 years. This organisation is breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality by unlocking access to holistic education. We look forward to continuing our support as Tomorrow Trust furthers its mission to create a brighter future for all children in South Africa.”
Many children in South Africa, particularly those that are vulnerable or orphaned, do not have the chance to realise success in academics or life. For every 100 South African school student starting school in grade one, only 51 make it to high school, 16 qualify for university and two graduate from university.
Tomorrow Trust offers educational programmes that establish a strong foundation of knowledge, build confidence and teach new skills to children from underserved communities. The charity is dedicated to driving positive change through education and empowerment and has made a lasting impact on the community through its programmes.
2500+
holiday and Saturday school learners
1000+
bursaries offered
1700+
alumni of programmes
Wood has recognised the challenges our learners face
Taryn Rae, CEO of Tomorrow Trust, commented: “We are incredibly proud of our 15-year partnership with Wood. Their dedication and passion for developing the youth of tomorrow have been evident throughout. Wood has recognised the challenges our learners face in accessing quality education, which is crucial for their future opportunities and positive contributions to the economy. By investing in our youth, Wood is helping ensure the continued success of both our society and economy.
“The Wood team has demonstrated exceptional commitment by mentoring, providing work experience, and nurturing the next generation of talent. Their support extends beyond financial contributions; they actively walk alongside the students, engaging with them through meaningful interactions and dedicated staff involvement. We are deeply grateful to Mark Hellman and his team for their unwavering support over the years.”
