The aim of Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) is that students apply their classroom experiences to develop and implement educational outreach programs that teach individuals in their communities the principles of market economics, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, environmental sustainability, business ethics and how to become successful in life. The NMMU SIFE team has identified the EZ Kebana High School in Kwamagaxi as one of their projects for 2012. This school has 592 learners and 20 teachers and is closely situated to Zwide, Missionvale, Veeplaas and Kwazakele. A visit to the school revealed that the school has great potential for development.
The Destiny For Success (DFS) programme will be utilised to shape learners to develop a positive influence within their communities. Teachers identified at the school will administer the entrepreneurship, leadership, Smartart and sport programmes. As the school may relocate, a container as a library facility is investigated to assist the school in encouraging learners to read and improve their literacy skills. The teachers have already received training on all these programmes at the NMMU. The entrepreneurship project training manual was developed by Prof Sandra Perks and Mr Mark Berry from Victoria Park provided the leadership programme manual based on a programmed he compiled called SHAPE. The NMMU SIFE project managers with the assistance of the executive committee will monitor the progress of the learners at the school with a two weekly visit. Mentoring will be given on an ongoing basis to the teachers at the school who administer the programme. The ultimate aim of the total project is to make the school self-sustainable so that the projects can progress the next year without SIFE NMMU’s assistance. All these projects can change the lives of many of these disadvantaged learners and will hopefully create a positive culture and atmosphere in the school.
The students are assisted by Prof Sandra Perks and Ms Kim Elliot, the faculty advisors of SIFE NMMU. Nedbank sponsored files for the teachers and a team building session for the executive NMMU SIFE committee and the project managers. Easigas is the main sponsor of SIFE NMMU and donated R50 000 for the transport of the students and teachers to and from the school and the NMMU.
From left to right: Mrs Lorraine van Wyk (Easigas); Lutho Jolobe (SIFE NMMU president); Prof Sandra Perks (SIFE NMMU Faculty advisor)
Absent from photo: Ms Kim Elliott (SIFE NMMU Faculty advisor)