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Current projects
PROTEC

PROTEC is a national science and technology career programme promoting technical literacy and education for students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 aimed at increasing the skilled human resources base focused on engineering, science and technology. Sappi’s nine centres reach 1,700 pupils per year.

Sappi has supported PROTEC since 1995 and has contributed R18.4 million to date and has committed R1.8 million for 2011/2012.
KwaDukuza Resource Centre

The KwaDukuza Resource Centre in KwaZulu-Natal opened in 2000 and has become the focal point in the community.   It is a digital village which provides educational resources as well as access to computer and Internet resources for over 90 schools and 70,000 learners in the area.

It also provides literacy training facilities for the community at large. To date R7.05 million has been spent on this project and Sappi has committed R600,000 for 2011/2012.
Umjindi Resource Centre

The Sappi Umjindi Study Centre was opened in January 2005 in Barberton, Mpumalanga. It provides computer services and study facilities to 46 schools.

To date Sappi has contributed R2.06 million to this project and R300,000 is committed for 2011/2012 to continue with this initiative.
Libraries

Sappi supports the efforts of community libraries to promote culture and literacy amongst the younger generation. Sappi supports the National Library Week and the National Book Week by donating books to 45 community libraries. Magazines have also been donated in previous years.

From 2000 to 2009 Sappi has donated approximately R3.95 million and R140,000 is planned for 2011/2012.
Paper donations
Sappi provides paper donations for selected publications. Some of the most recent have been:
  • The annual WWF-SA calendar
  • The award-winning Climate Change diary
  • The annual report of the Peace Parks Foundation
  • Public information brochures and reports for the Braamfontein Improvement District
  • Volume one to four of 'The Road to Democracy in South Africa' - a project of the South African Democracy Education Trust
​ Jacana paper donations ​
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For a 'flipping preview' of the books in English,
please click on the relevant cover image below:

Part of Sappi’s commitment to promoting reading, including home language reading, was through the sponsorship of paper for the 'Best Loved Tales for Africa' children’s book series by Jacana Media.

The series comprises four books published in eight languages (English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho, Setswana, Sepedi and Xitsonga) and are available to the public through good bookstores and library suppliers or directly from Jacana Media.

To download a free activity sheet, please click here. This can be used alongside a book reading at a library, in the classroom or at home.

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​ ​Educational material ​ ​
​ Sappi develops posters, brochures and workbooks for distribution to schools and libraries. These have proven extremely popular with the learners and we constantly receive requests for this educational material.
 
To date Sappi has spent R3.3 million on material and another R30,000 is planned for 2011/2012.
 
To obtain copies of this material, send your details to Richman.Ndlovu@sappi.com
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Past projects
Penreach Teacher Development

The Penreach programme was launched in 1993 as a joint initiative between Sappi and Penryn College in Mpumalanga. Today Penreach is the largest teacher development programme in Africa. Up to 1,600 educators attend the Saturday courses where eight workshops were sponsored by Sappi for primary school educators. These educators then return to their schools and in turn train other educators.

Sappi contributed over R5.7 million to this project.
Mini Expo (PROTEC)
Sappi supported the Mini Expo for Young Scientists, held as a bridging event for previously disadvantaged scholars (and those from rural communities) for the national Science Expo, which has been the preserve of 'wealthy' schools. This was a tremendous success (in KwaZulu-Natal) and in 2003 two Sappi PROTEC students, Thamsanqa Shange and Vincent Mbongwa, won through to the National Science Expo with their project on the efficacy of antibiotics. They were invited to compete at the Milset EXPO Science Internationale 2003 in Moscow.
 
Sappi contributed R1.57 million over a seven year period which ended in 2006 due to budget constraints.

 
Inanda Seminary

 
An original investment of R2 milion (2000/2001) allowed for the complete renovation of the Inanda Seminary.
 
Opened by former President Nelson Mandela, it was the only private school for black girls and is the alma mater of many current leading figures in South Africa. Sappi's total contribution across six years came to R4.8 million.
​ ​Sappi Puppet Theatre ​
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The Sappi puppet theatre was in operation from 1998 to 2004 and reached an estimated 130,000 children. The main character Adam spoke about conservation and Aids awareness.

From 2000 to 2004 approximately R805,000 was spent on this project.

 

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