In honour of that vision and Ford Motor Company South Africa’s centenary, Ford is launching three major youth education and empowerment projects totalling R85 million to benefit young people from toddlers to young adults.

In keeping with the 100th anniversary theme, Ford South Africa and the Ford Motor Company Fund, the company’s philanthropic arm, are building 100 early childhood development (ECD) centres; funding the transformation of shipping containers into 100 maths and science labs for primary schools; and awarding 100 scholarships to young adults in technical high schools and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges to promote learning in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

100 Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres:

Ford South Africa is partnering with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to build 100 early childhood development centres in disadvantaged areas to ensure that young children have a solid educational footing before starting in primary school. These ECD centres will replace existing nursery schools that are under-resourced, dilapidated and not compliant with the government’s health and safety requirements.

The funding from Ford will facilitate the construction of completely new buildings, comprising two classrooms, a kitchen, toilet facilities and a sick bay, which provide a safe, healthy and conducive learning environment for children.

Furthermore, establishing formal ECD centres in selected areas that comply with regulations means parents and other beneficiaries can obtain financial support from government, further enhancing the quality of foundational education in communities that need it most.

100 Maths and Science Labs:

Ford South Africa and Ford Motor Company Fund are jointly funding an innovative project to transform 100 shipping containers into fully equipped maths and science laboratories for primary schools around the country.

Logistics company, Maersk, is donating 100 shipping containers that will be refurbished into fully functioning labs complete with all the necessary learning equipment. The Gift of the Givers Foundation is the non-profit organisation selected to implement this project.

The Department of Basic Education will provide the list of 100 schools in disadvantaged areas across South Africa to receive these labs. This initiative will make a significant contribution to the education of thousands of learners, fostering greater interest and addressing shortcomings in STEM education, which is vital in our modern, technology-driven world.

100 Scholarships:

Progressing Ford’s educational empowerment programme through to the senior school phase and beyond, Ford Fund will be awarding 100 scholarships to highly motivated young South Africans from impoverished communities who are enrolled in technical high schools as well as technical and vocational colleges.

The focus once again will be on STEM-related careers, including the mechatronics, autotronics, millwright and electrical trade fields. Once their studies are completed, scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to apply for apprenticeship programmes at Ford.

And, equipped with technical qualifications that are in high demand, students can enter the broader automotive and other industries based on their specific fields of interest, should they wish to do so.