Working in Communities
Creating an environment where young minds ‘thrive’
Building a foundation to promote grassroots education
ChromTech, a prominent chrome company operating in North West and Limpopo, has significantly amplified its focus on grassroots education as part of its efforts to bridge gaps in children’s reading comprehension skills.
ChromTech’s approach involves close collaboration with local schools, implementing a grassroots strategy that ensures a direct and meaningful impact within the communities where the company operates.
The impetus for this focus emerged from research that unveiled concerning disparities in children’s reading comprehension abilities. In response, ChromTech initiated an education fund to provide support to schools in close proximity, with the goal of enhancing both student learning and educator training. The company’s active engagement with community schools underscores its commitment to effecting positive change in local education.
Recently, ChromTech extended its reach by establishing libraries at Chrome Mine Primary in Smashblock and Modise Commercial Secondary in Mantserre, following the successful introduction of libraries at Photsoneng Primary and Johane Mokolobetsi Secondary Schools in Modderspruit.
Significantly, these educational institutions are strategically located near ChromTech’s operations, underscoring the company’s deliberate intent to collaborate closely with communities “on their doorstep.”
In all instances, ChromTech partnered with the Department of Education to ensure that the schools received reading materials aligned with the curriculum, with a total investment of over R400,000 in books to date.
Jono Gay, CEO of ChromTech, underscored the paramount importance of quality education for every child. He stated, “The company’s grassroots approach seeks to empower learners, enabling them to realize their academic potential while also making positive contributions to the advancement of their communities.”
ChromTech’s initial venture into supporting school libraries began a few years ago through its sponsorship of Marikana High School’s library. The “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader” project entailed constructing a new library stocked with fresh books, resources, and a comprehensive catalogue system. This innovative facility replaced the school’s outdated swimming pool area, a testament to ChromTech’s dedication to transforming educational spaces and fostering enhanced learning opportunities.
The company’s commitment to grassroots education is unmistakable, demonstrated through its efforts to address reading comprehension gaps and drive positive change within local communities. By collaborating with schools, investing in crucial resources, and prioritising the potential of learners, ChromTech envisions a future where young minds thrive academically while actively contributing to the progress of their immediate surroundings.
How do these projects affect learner’s lives?
These libraries have an effect that goes far beyond where they are. They are more than just infrastructure because they help people regain their dignity and build their hopes. These spaces represent the opening of doors and the growth of young people’s dreams.
Many of these students go back to homes that don’t have electricity. For them, having a clean and quiet place to study, like the attached verandas that surround the libraries, is invaluable. These libraries become safe places for children to learn and find comfort and inspiration when they are facing problems they can’t control.
Outside of the pages of books, these places have the power to change people’s lives. They help learners imagine a future that is full of opportunities and where knowledge is the key to reaching their full potential. The effects of these programmes can be felt throughout the community, bringing about positive changes that go far beyond the school walls.
Taking Small Steps to Make Big Changes
In a world that changes all the time, education is the key to making progress. The future of many industries, including mining, is changing drastically, and more automation is looming on the horizon. As the world changes, the engineers and leaders of the future will need a strong education to help them keep their footing in this shifting arena.
The projects that ChromTech is working on serve two purposes: they not only meet the needs of the present, but they also set the stage for shaping the future. By putting money into education at the local level, the company plants the seeds of knowledge and power in young minds. These small steps could lead to huge changes, not only in people’s lives but also in the way whole communities develop.
Through libraries and help with education, ChromTech is planting the seeds for people to be strong and flexible. It imagines a future in which these young minds, equipped with knowledge and education, can confidently navigate the changing world.