The Engen Community Computer School has proudly capped another 71 graduates from the South Durban Basin, equipping them with essential computer skills to significantly enhance their employability.

A graduation ceremony, hosted on 8 December 2023 at Blue Roof Life Space in Wentworth marked the culmination of the four-month intensive training programme.

Of the 2023 graduates, 35% have secured employment or gained acceptance into learnership programmes, continuing the Engen Community Computer School's impactful legacy of transforming the lives of South Durban Basin residents.

Local Bluff residents and recent graduates, Tamika Summer Mary Petersen and Afton Lupke both secured positions as cashiers at Clicks, while Nomlindelo Cwele secured a position as a cashier at Spar.

Since 2009, the Engen Community Computer School has empowered 2939 individuals with a basic computer skills qualification, significantly increasing their employment prospects.

Providing free 4-month introductory-level computer skills training, covering 8-unit standards of the National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing, the Engen Computer School has consistently attracted a waiting list of unemployed residents and school-leavers from South Durban.

The school encourages those eager to upskill to enrol in the next course starting on 15 January 2024.

Sheryl Casalis, Course Convener and Training Director, expressed her satisfaction with the positive outcomes, stating, "The Engen Community Computer School training makes a tangible difference to the attitudes of the people who attend the course. Many arrive feeling hopeless and not believing that they have the ability to learn how to use a computer."

"Prior to completing the course, a number of students secured employment and learnership opportunities, showcasing the immediate impact of our training,” added Casalis.

Dr. James Xolani Nyawera, Engen's Head of Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement, congratulated the graduates, emphasizing the company's commitment to continuous community upskilling.

"At Engen, we believe that continuous community upskilling will ensure resilience and readiness in today’s ever-changing and demanding new digital world."

Nyawera highlighted Engen's history of positively impacting the lives of community members in South Durban, emphasising the company's role as a caring and responsible entity.

Engen supports nine of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on SDG 4 – Quality Education.

The company has a longstanding commitment to education in Durban through initiatives such as Engen Maths and Science Schools (EMSS), addressing skills shortages in engineering and technical fields.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the EMSS programme offers additional Maths, Science, and English tuition to underprivileged learners at four separate schools (at Fairvale High School, Ganges High School, Hillview High School and Umlazi Commercial High School), contributing to the economic growth and transformation of the country.

Nyawera concluded: "Engen is humbled to play a small role in positively changing the lives of community members who reside in an area close to Engen operations in South Durban."