“Youth Month is an opportunity to celebrate how young people can make an impact on the world…but only if we put our minds to it!”
This is the rallying cry of Sameerah Khan, a passionate environmental scientist and emerging business leader who is currently developing her skills as an Engen Graduate Trainee.
The Parlock local’s relationship with Engen started in her Grade 10 school year when she enrolled in Engen’s Maths and Science School (EMSS) programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College), where she received free supplementary tuition every Saturday until she matriculated.
“EMSS helped bolster my marks and challenged me to think more critically,” says Sameerah, whose excellent matric marks earned her a place to study at the University of the Western Cape, from where she graduated with a BSc in Environmental and Water Science in 2016.
The Crescent Girls’ High School alumni currently works in the Environmental Science Department at Engen’s Refinery in Wentworth and is a member of the company’s Graduate Development Programme.
“My role is diverse, which gives me the opportunity to work with numerous environmental disciplines such as sustainability, corporate social responsibility, waste management, energy, greenhouse emissions, and more,” reflects Sameerah.
“The Engen Graduate Development Programme has provided me with many tools and skills that can be used in future positions, and I am grateful to have an amazing team who is always willing to assist and impart their knowledge,” she adds.
The now 26-year-old urges young South Africans to “Never give up! Even if your goals seem unattainable, keep going and your tenacity will help you realise your dreams.
“If you love what you are doing, you will be rewarded with many moments of fulfilment.”
To achieve her goals, Sameerah says she sets milestones and keeps pushing forward, “come what may!”
In terms of highlights in her short career to date, Sameerah points to her active involvement in tree planting and a sustainable vegetable gardening initiative, both in South Durban, as being particularly memorable.
“I especially enjoyed working on a sustainable garden project at Settlers Primary School in Merebank where Engen donated vegetable seedlings, flowers, ground cover plants and garden equipment and I was able to assist in providing young learners with the opportunity to develop green fingers and better understand their relationship with nature.”
Sameerah credits her success to the support and encouragement given to her by her parents, which has allowed her to pursue her dreams and realise her ambitions.
“From a young age, my father instilled my love of nature, which has inspired my career and my mother continues to remind me every step of the way, that I can achieve anything that I put my mind to and that anything is possible.”
Looking to the future, Sameerah aims to seize every opportunity that comes her way and to make a positive impact by being part of something meaningful.
“I also want to travel and learn about different cultures, foods, and people,” she adds.
Continuing to attract and grow talented young people like Sameerah Khan demonstrates Engen’s ongoing commitment to developing our countries future experts and leaders.
In 2021, the company invested R11.9 million in Learnerships and Bursaries, along with a further R27 million in social causes.
Furthermore, as a company that is passionate about progress and seeks to provide opportunities for talented young adults to explore new horizons, Engen’s Graduate Development Programme offers recent graduates, valuable work experience across a broad range of business functions.
Ivershini Reddy, Engen’s General Manager: Human Resources, explains: “It is Engen’s ultimate reward to help set talented people up to pursue stimulating careers that won’t only benefit them personally, but also their families and the broader economy of South Africa.
“As a company, Engen is firmly committed to building tomorrow’s leaders and if we want to ensure that the youth of tomorrow are prepared for a rapidly changing world, we need to ensure that they have the right mix of skills for them to reach their full potential,” adds Reddy.
Kicking off 34 years ago, the Engen Maths and Science School programme is central to Engen’s efforts to contribute to the growth and transformation of South Africa.
Comments Engen’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, Adhila Hamdulay: “EMSS works tirelessly to help transform young underprivileged people’s lives, with a focus of creating a diverse and vibrant workforce.
“Through the programme, supplementary tuition is provided to approximately 1 800 under-privileged Grade 10-12 learners across South Africa every year.”
Engen Maths and Science Schools are based in Cape Town (with classes held at Belgravia and Manzomthombo High Schools every Saturday), and in Port Elizabeth, East London, Cala, and Johannesburg.
In KwaZulu-Natal classes sit on Saturdays at four locations, namely: Fairvale High School, Ganges High School, Howard College, and Mangosuthu University of Technology.