A Corporate Social Investment (CSI) collaboration that kicked off in 2016, culminated in the recent handover of a newly refurbished science laboratory at the Diepdale Secondary School in Soweto.

The opening day was a festive one with learners and guests being entertained by the School’s choir, well known SABC2 television personalities, young professional Fluor engineers and members of the Education Fraternity. The science laboratory was officially opened by Elijah Mhlanga, Chief Director, Media Liaison, National and Provincial Communication at the Department of Basic Education.

Fluor, a global engineering and construction company, partnered with SABC2 and SABC Foundation on this project as both companies selected Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education as an important area of investment to make a positive contribution in the communities where they work.

“In view of the shortage of engineers nationally and globally, we believe that this refurbished facility will encourage learners to follow a career in Engineering,” said Fluor South Africa’s corporate affairs manager, Linda Nxumalo. “We also want to help improve the performance in Mathematics and Science subjects, and believe that the renovated laboratory will support this goal.”

Criteria used to select Diepdale Secondary School included the manner in which the school is run, as well as their asset management abilities. “We also looked at the school’s performance in the last three years and their matric results.
Commitment from the teachers, the school leadership and learners’ conduct and discipline, as well as the School Governing Body’s support and active participation in school administration, formed part of the qualification criteria,” she said.

SABC2 Head of Bouquet, Gerhard Pretorius said: “Our partnership with Fluor goes together with the Channel’s positioning based on one of our pillars, Education. This is a basic necessity, and as SABC2, this partnership was a perfect fit in our quest to drive the messaging around the importance of Education.

We feel that Engineering and Science cannot be ignored in terms of exposing young learners, especially in the communities, to the broader education spectrum and the unlimited career opportunities available out there.”

“We trust that the learners will enjoy the laboratory and continue to perform to their optimum and ensure that Diepdale continues to produce the best results and the future Scientists and Engineers that our country needs,” Pretorius added.

Fluor has a long tradition of community service around the world. Fluor employees are socially responsible and committed to making a sustainable and positive impact in their communities. Fluor’s formal employee volunteer programme, Fluor Cares®, is at the heart of the company’s community involvement efforts. 

They are committed to help enrich peoples’ lives through Fluor’s giving focus areas of education, social services, community and economic development, and the environment.