Schneider Electric, the world’s most sustainable company and leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, marked this year’s annual Giving Tuesday with agenda-packed event, held at its Anglophone Africa headquarters in Midrand, South Africa. 

Attended both online and in-person by Schneider Electric’s offices from East and West Africa and the SADC region, the morning served to highlight the company’s longstanding commitment to community upliftment and sustainability, showcasing key initiatives that reflect the spirit of Giving Tuesday while also celebrating the Schneider Electric Foundation’s 25-year anniversary.

Undoubtedly, one of the major highlights of the morning was the recognition of the Young Emerging Farmers Initiative (YEFI) from Zambia, which recently placed fifth in the Schneider Electric Foundation’s ‘25 Years Young’ Campaign, with a call for projects in Youth Innovation for a Sustainable Future, for Middle East and Africa.

The YEFI’s Zambia Youth for Conservation, Agriculture, and Livelihoods Action II (ZYCALA II) Project is designed to combat climate change and advance youth livelihoods.  The project stood out among hundreds of entries worldwide, earning top-five-winning laurels and €5,000 prize.

The ZYCALA II Project, founded by Richard Kachungu, equips Zambian youth in Mkushi, Serenje, and Chitambo districts with tools and training for climate-smart agriculture. The programme integrates sustainable practices such as agroforestry, organic farming, and efficient water management which, in turn, improves food security, economic stability, and environmental stewardship.

The project also place emphasis on entrepreneurship, gender inclusivity, and community engagement has transformed young farmers into agents of change, fostering agribusiness innovation and resilience in marginalised communities. 

A legacy of impact

Since its inception into the company in 2017, Schneider Electric’s Giving Tuesday initiatives have exemplified the company’s dedication to corporate social responsibility. This year’s celebration was particularly significant, commemorating 25 years of the Schneider Electric Foundation’s work in driving sustainability and fostering social equity.

“The Foundation’s legacy reflects Schneider Electric’s core values of sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation,” said Devan Pillay, Cluster President for Anglophone Africa at Schneider Electric: “Today’s event is a testament to the extraordinary potential of young people and the impact of collective action in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Key Schneider Electric Foundation milestones over the last 25 years include:

• Empowering Youth: Providing educational opportunities and vocational training to young people through the Youth Education & Entrepreneurship program, with over 760,000 people trained since 2009,
• Promoting Just Transition: Raising awareness about social issues and fostering sustainable practices.
• Mobilising Employee Volunteers: Inspiring over 28,000 employees to dedicate 66,000+ volunteer days to community initiatives since 2017
• Tomorrow Rising Funds: Acts as a relay and amplifies the mobilisations of local Schneider Electric entities following natural disasters or emergency situations.

The Giving Tuesday event also celebrated initiatives such as:

• Schneider Electric Youth Impact Through Learning initiatives such as the Ukufunda Youth Development project from South Africa with local training equipment donations, as well as Youth Education and Entrepreneurship programme projects like Village Exchange Ghana and the Eastlands College of Technology in Kenya to upskill youth in practical energy training
• The global New Skills for the Future and Innovation programme, part of the Youth Education and Entrepreneurship programme, which impacted almost 14,000 youth in Anglophone Africa in 2024.  

Mentorship and empowerment with Enactus

The Giving Tuesday event also spotlighted the Schneider Electric Foundation’s collaboration with Enactus, an international nonprofit focused on entrepreneurial action for social impact. Schneider Electric, has in partnership with Enactus, rolled out various programmes across its regions including Anglophone Africa.  

The morning highlighted the Enactus Mentorship Programme which featured testimonials from both Schneider Electric mentors and Enactus mentees, outlining real-world challenges, learnings and successes during the duration of mentorship programmes.