Phambili High soars into 2017

The sky is the limit for 19-year-old Jabulile Mncwango (Umlazi) who obtained 4 distinctions as a student 

at Phambili High School. Next month Jabulile embarks on her university education as she starts her 

studies at UKZN Howard College Campus studying electrical engineering. 

 Photograph courtesy Paul Godwin

Despite its challenges and the fact that a great deal of work still has to be done both in the classroom and in the general infrastructure at Phambili High School in Rossburgh, 2016 was a positive milestone for the school with pupils and staff having reason to celebrate with a 60.1% matric pass rate. A total of 196 learners wrote the final exams last year with 24 students receiving a Bachelors Pass and 47 students a Matric Diploma.

Phambili High School is an institution that caters for low-income families and has many students that have encountered social problems in other schools. For some of these students Phambili High has been their last opportunity for receiving an education. Happily these students have accepted the challenge and are now thriving, thanks to a dedicated School Principal and teaching staff that have invested great personal time and effort to help the learners overcome their difficulties. The school also has students from all over Africa some of whom have learnt to speak isiZulu and English, as their mother tongue is actually French. Some students hail from other countries such DRC, Congo, Lesotho, Mozambique and other provinces like Eastern Cape.

“We are busy developing the School to become a normal High School in this area. Concentrating on and offering quality education to any student that wants to learn” states Londa Luthuli School Principal, “Part of this ongoing development requires that we need assistance from corporates.”  

Although the students have done the hard work, a significant part of this success has come from input from a local cement manufacturer NPC/Intercement who set up a brand new Science Lab and Library for the school. This has impacted positively on the school’s results in the subjects of Science and Mathematics. Science results increased from 16% to 37% and mathematics results from 13% in 2015 to 16% in 2016.

“I take this opportunity to thank NPC/Intercement for its positive involvement in our school which is benefiting the learners as well as other assistance it has given us in the past such as the Day of Doing Good program.” states Londa Luthuli School Principal

The setting up of both these facilities has enabled the students to have a better learning environment. The library is fully functional and has the necessary literature and facilities to create a positive learning area. The Science Lab has given students the ability to work on practical experiments, which has made them understand the subject of science better, and the good results are testament to that.

The library has also helped learners in the subject of English. The school has introduced a reading program and encourages all its learners to learn and have a better understanding of the English language and improved their language proficiency. This has resulted in a 90% improvement in the 2016 Matric results.

Graduation fever hit Phambili High School in Rossburgh recently as the school honoured its top performers. Pictured from left to right are: Sambulo Mtolo from Umlazi, Phambili High School Principal Londa Luthuli and Jabulile Mncwango (Umlazi). Both students benefitted from a much needed Science Lab and Library, which was funded by NPC/Intercement. Photograph courtesy Paul Godwin

One of the beneficiaries of the improved Science Lab and Library is 19-year-old Jabulile Mncwango who lives in Umlazi. Jabulile was an outstanding student in 2016 and passed with 4 distinctions. Next month Jabulile embarks on her university education, as she will be studying Electrical Engineering at UKZN Howard College Campus.

Jabulile comments “I have benefitted a lot from the new science lab. I certainly would not have got my “B” for Physical Science if I did not have the use of a lab as it allows us to do practical experiments and helps us understand the subject better. The availability of the lab certainly assisted and helped me gain more knowledge on the subject. It was also great to be able to have the use of the School Library. This helped me with my studying, as it was a peaceful and spacious place where I could work on my assignments and helped me with my study program. I believe reading is very important and the library was very helpful in this regard and the school also encouraged us to read more”  Jabulile continues “ Personally it was a very hectic year for me but thanks to our dedicated Principal and teachers and to the school partners such as NPC/Intercement I have reaped the rewards”

Another student entering the world with wide eyes is 19-year-old Sambulo Mtolo from Umlazi. Sambulo achieved a Bachelors Pass and will be studying Electrical Engineering at Mangosuthu University of Technology this year.

Sambulo took full advantage of the Science Lab and Library during his time at Phambili “ The fact that we could perform practical experiments in the lab was very helpful. It is very hard studying Science without the proper learning facilities. The Library was also very helpful to me as it had all the information I needed to study and assisted me with my subjects”

“I want to be a professional engineer. I also encourage the youth to go to school, learn and be successful. It takes hard work and dedication, but it is worth It.,” comments Sambulo

In 2015 NPC/Intercement funded Phambili High School an under performing school in the Durban suburb of Rossburgh. At the time the school was in need of assistance and was a school, which most corporate funders would shy away from due to the fact that many of the students were expelled from 'good' schools due to under performance or social issues, like violence and substance abuse.

NPC funded the setting up of a brand new library and science laboratory and as a direct result of NPC Intercement’s interventions there has been a positive turnaround at Phambili High School.

Smangele Tshabalala Transformation Manager at NPC/ Intercement comments “It is encouraging to see improvements in learner outcomes at Phambili – our company took a risk and funded this school when it was worst performing, because we believed every child has a potential, all they needed is a conducive environment to facilitate teaching and learning. Congratulations to the learners, the parents, the teachers and management of Phambili for your hard work and partnership.”

words and pictures - Paul Godwin

9/2/2017

Stop saying "Hey" "What" and "Beg your pardon" - Use the Phonetic Alphabet !

A tip for better communication - Use the Phonetic Alphabet

Of course communication is a big deal, So without re-inventing the wheel familiarise yourselves with the phonetic alphabet.

Trying to speak to people on the telephone networks can sometimes be very frustrating due to accents and the various different languages spoken in our country. As English is the official working language in South Africa the phonetic alphabet can be very useful, it reduces those stressful phone call enquiries and helps us all just get on with business.

For me the most frustrating thing is to try and get a persons email address over the phone, and when you say “I will sms it to you” it usually takes forever or you are forgotten thanks to the pace we move and shake.

Most people with a military or policing back ground will be very familiar with the phonetic alphabet and for me when someone uses it, it actually raises my respect for the person when they use the alphabet and so makes me listen a bit more intently to their pitch. Basically its just another work tool to help us all communicate better and who doesn’t want that.

Try it, its very easy  and I can promise you it will mean less mistakes in making future contact with clients, colleagues and friends

I often use the phonetic alphabet when reciting my addresses or contact info over the phone, suprisingly not many people are aware of the code and will come back to you with their idea of a code, such as M for Mother, D for Donkey, F for Freddy and so on.

The alphabet code is simple:

A – Alpha

B – Bravo

C – Charlie

D – Delta

E – Echo

F – Foxtrot

G – Golf

H – Hotel

I – India

J – Juliett

K – Kilo

L – Lima

M – Mike

N – November

O – Oscar

P – Papa

Q – Quebec

R – Romeo

S – Sierra

T – Tango

U – Uniform

V – Victor

W – Whiskey

X – Xray    

Y – Yankee

Z – Zulu

1 – Pronounced - WUN

2 – Pronounced - TOO

3 – Pronounced - TREE

4 – Pronounced – FOW-ER

5 – Pronounced -  FIFE

6 – Pronounced - SIX

7 – Pronounced – SE-VEN

8 – Pronounced - AIT

9 – Pronounced – NINER

0 – Pronounced – ZEE-RO

Try it… it's fun 😎

Definition: The phonetic language - also known as the 'spelling alphabet' or the NATO phonetic alphabet - is used by professional communicators, especially police, military and other emergency and armed forces, to identify letters precisely, either when communicating initials, abbreviations or spellings of words.

Local entrepreneur fired by passion is making a difference

Fikile Magudu (Nozulu School Wear) (Left) discusses elements of her business and the manufacturing process with Ricardo Barbosa (CEO of NPC and Vice President for Africa at Intercement)  (2nd left) and Smangele Tshabalala (Transformation Manager NPC/Intercement) (far right) looking on Ahmed Barmania NPC Procurement Manager and Mbali Sabela (PA to Mr Ricardo Barbosa). NPC/Intercement has been instrumental in assisting with equipment and other elements to assist Fikile grow her business, through its Social Investment programme. Image supplied courtesy Paul Godwin

Nozulu School Uniforms Pop-up Shop Opens in Chesterville Township

Many South Africans are looking at 2017 with pessimism and others may be suffering from "Januworries”, but a local Durban businesswoman has taken the "bull by the horns" and is only looking at the positive. With the school holidays behind us, learners and parents are excited about the new school year, new grades and new schools for some.

Parents spend much of the holidays preparing their children for back-to-school buying of school uniforms and stationery. Although this can be exciting it does also put a lot of financial pressure on many families especially those in low-income communities. 

Bearing this in mind, while the rest of us were enjoying the festive season an amazing and passionate woman entrepreneur from Chesterville, Fikile Magudu and her team of eight staff were hard at work manufacturing uniforms and preparing to clothe the learners attending school in the Chesterville Township and other schools in the area with affordable school uniforms. 

Fikile a mother with two sons who has lived her entire life in Chesterville, has been in business since 2010 and is entrenched in the local community. Through hard work and dedication Nozulu School Wear has become a reality which is benefiting the local community and has local students proudly sporting quality uniforms of which they and the community can be proud of.

For this dream to come true, Nozulu has had some help along the way and she thanks a local company NPC/ InterCement with its South Africa's Textile and Clothing Manufacturing Project for funding support to set up the shop. NPC has supplied vital equipment and material for the factory’s production line in partnership with eThekwini Municipality who provided the factory space and with the help and support of the Municipality's Cato Manor ABM and the entrepreneurial development training through its Business Support unit. The assistance from NPC and the municipality has also assisted Nozulu in opening its first "Pop Up Shop" in Chesterville with the aim to supply children and their parents with affordable quality school uniforms.  Situated at number 11 Maphephetha Road / Road 14, Nozulu School Wear is conveniently situated in the township with the clothing factory situated close by in the Umkhumbane Entrepreneurial Support Centre (UESC) in Harry Gwala Road. 

Fikile’s journey started from very humble beginnings in 2010 firstly working from home and then from various shops in the City Centre. Working in the City proved an expensive undertaking and led to her moving into the local resource centre in Chesterville. It was here that she was introduced to the UESC program and submitted an application to be admitted into the program and was accepted. This program offers start up businesses the opportunity to work from affordable premises and offers training in business compliance, financial management, human resources, sales and marketing.

 “People do not understand or are not aware of what many companies like NPC/intercement and eThekweni Municipality are doing for communities and small start up companies such as mine, without their support it is very difficult for us to make a living” states Fikile.

Fikile will face a challenge in July 2018 when her contract expires in Umkhumbane and she will be looking for new premises for her clothing factory. However based on her current performance – one can only assume that  Nozulu School Wear will be moving forwards to even greater heights. The pop up store will remain at its present site.

Nozulu Schoolwear provides school uniforms to more than seven schools in KZN and is also branching out to the North and South Coast. This in turn is creating employment opportunities in those areas for suppliers to supply schools such as Isidelile Seconday and Umzinto Secondary on the KZN South Coast who are already loyal supporters of Nozulu School Wear. This is a very good sign and bodes well for Fikile’s entrepreneurial spirit and vision for her company.

“Without the support of NPC / Intercement and the eThekweni Business Support, Tourism and Marketing Unit my dream would not have materialized, they have made my business a reality, giving me the opportunity to concentrate on growing my business and create employment for members of my community. It is hard for me to express my gratitude to NPC and Ethekweni but I would simply not be here if it was not for their support and guidance. The only way I can show them my gratitude is to be successful.” Comments Fikile She goes on to say  “I am also extremely grateful to the local schools in the community that support Nozulu, without their support and loyalty I would not be in business."

NPC/ InterCement South Africa Textile and Clothing Manufacturing Project, which aims to facilitate skills development, job creation and provide development and support to SMMes with a potential to supply industry. Through this project Nozulu was assisted with materials and some equipment for the production line as well as totally refurbishing the pop up shop container which included painting and providing and installing all the shelving and branding. 

NPC/ Intercement wants to support more local businesses that are in the vicinity of our operations, small businesses such as Nozulu School Wear, and other SMME’s like this. Discussing Nozulu’s progress with Fikile, I can see the success in her eyes and obvious passion for her business and wish her all the very best going forward. States Mr Ricardo Barbosa (CEO of NPC and Vice President for Africa at Intercement)

Happy customers - with the pop up store conveniently situated in the township, the local community has easy access to affordable quality school uniforms. Store Manager Duduzile Madonsela serves another happy customer from the recently renovated container which was supplied by Ethekwini Municipality’s Business Support Unit and totally refurbished by NPC/Intercement

Image supplied courtesy Paul Godwin

About Umkhumbane Entrepreneurial Support Centre (UESC) :

Umkhumbane is a manufacturing incubator operating since 2001 and caters for a vast array of manufacturing businesses in various disciplines. Whilst all the businesses in the incubator are 100% black owned and there is an equally generous mix of women and youth owned businesses currently being developed through the incubation program. EThekwini Municipality are the owners of the incubator and are responsible for the development of the incubates for the period of three years they operating from the premises.

Nozulu Training and Development has received assistance from eThekwini Municipality including trainings/workshops, access to market, access to information. The interventions that were received by her business as part of business development initiatives include business compliance, financial management, human resources, sales and marketing. Ntombifikile has also attended workshop such as Complexities of tax management that educate business on being tax compliance and including the importance of financial record keeping in business.

The business has also benefited through on our access to information programs such as Women Economic Empowerment Conference, Women Economic Breakfast and Essence Durban Festival Business Conference. She has been exposed to access to markets initiative, where she participated on all the regional fairs including South, North and Inner-Outer west. Her business has also been exposed on one of the biggest city event such as Main Durban Business Fair and Essence Durban Festival. With the above intervention, Fikile has been able to grow her business to a greater height and now she has pop up show selling school uniforms in Chesterville.

Story and photographs - Paul Godwin/Nerve Communications

Nerve Events: Back to work... I wonder what twists and turns 201...

Nerve Events: Back to work... I wonder what twists and turns 201...: Back to work... I wonder what twists and turns 2017 will bring us ? ..... batteries fully charged lets do this thang....  ;)   ;)   ...