28 NCT Richards Bay Woodchips recently awarded the community of Mandlanzini with learnerships, bursaries, and supplies to Early Childhood Development centres. This came about after the community represented by North Coast Workers Forum made a plea to NCT for help to alleviate the unemployment crisis within the community. NCT saw this as an opportunity to foster a relationship with the community while uplifting them. The award ceremony was held at Mandlanzini Agri-Village on 7 September. 61 youths benefited from this initiative – 30 Learnerships, ten Bursaries to Richtek and 21 enrollments for driving permits for various construction machines. This, according to NCT, will improve the community’s employability. NCT further donated R100 000 towards supplies to three Early Childhood Development Centres. The community of Mandlanzini has been ostracised by local businesses during community development projects. NCT is changing that narrative and aims to restore hope for them. Although some challenges occurred during this process, NCT is honored to have had the opportunity to engage with the Mandlanzini Traditional Council, North Coast Workers Forum, and Manadlanzini Workers Forum. North Coast Workers Forum Director, Wiseman Ndlovu, encourages the Youth to use the funding-opportunity wisely. Cheque handover to the Mandlanzini community by NCT. Elated learnership beneficiaries. NCT is a socially responsible co-operative that is conscious of the impact it has on all aspects of society, ensuring it operates in ways that positively enhance society and the environment. Below are some community projects that have recently been initiated by the co-operate in continuous efforts of building relationships with communities. Funding initiative for the Mandlanzini Community from NCT NCT closed Women’s month on a positive note by donating sanitary pads to girls at Enqabebi Combined School in Lenjane. Lenjane is a small rural community outside Vryheid. 193 girls were gifted with a six-month supply of sanitary pads. The principal of the school indicated that this initiative would alleviate the Enqabeni Combined school sanitary-towel drive absenteeism rate, as leaners don’t attend school during their menstrual cycle because they cannot afford sanitary pads. NCT looks forward to a continued and longlasting working relationship with the school and hopes to lessen obstacles that prevent the girlchildren from reaching their full learning potential.
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