Youth Month is special as it provides an opportunity to reflect on the importance of helping young gifted South Africans explore new horizons and reach for the stars. Busiswe Mkhungo a young chemical engineer is one of many whose horizons have broadened thanks to Engen. Reflecting on the significance of 16 June in our country’s history, Busisiwe advises the country’s youth to focus on the real world and stop putting all their energy into boasting on social media.

“I’m really concerned about social media because it’s stealing people’s dreams. It seems all young people care about it their next social media brag. We’ve lost touch with humanity.” When she was in grade 10, Busiswe, who grew up in Kwa-Zulu Natal and matriculated from Makhanda High School in Port Shepstone, knew that she wanted to be a chemical engineer.

Despite her unsettled childhood, with both parents unemployed and frequently staying with relatives, today she has conquered the impossible, and not only achieved her dream of graduating, but is part of Engen’s prestigious graduate programme. Graduates who join the programme, initially have no fixed position, as their first year is spent across a variety of functions, learning about the business. For now, Busisiwe has joined Engen’s Lubricants Department in Westville, Durban.

“As a graduate trainee at Engen you get to know exactly where you fit in within the company. I really appreciate the company’s culture and beliefs – they put their money into growing people skills,” she says. Her relationship with Engen started in grade 10 when she first attended Engen’s Maths and Sciences School (EMSS) in Port Shepstone where her desire to excel was sparked. “I attended supplementary classes every Saturday for three years until I matriculated. I allowed myself to dream big because EMSS gave me the confidence I needed. Even though my goals scared me, I knew that by depending on God, my hard work would pay off.

“Engen’s extra classes in maths, science and English really helped me improve. My English mark was around 50% when I joined and improved to 78% when I matriculated. So, what is Busisiwe’s secret to success? “I believe that anything and everything is possible if you put God first and work hard. I don’t like to set long term goals but rather prefer to focus on attainable short-term goals which then lead me to the next steps that I need to take along my journey.”

By continuing to attract and grow minds and talents like Busisiwe, and to shape the careers of talented graduates, Engen continues on its path shape the future for the better. Helping young gifted South Africans explore new horizons proves once again that as a company, Engen is committed to building tomorrow’s leaders.

Youth Month is special as it provides an opportunity to reflect on the importance of helping young gifted South Africans explore new horizons and reach for the stars.

Nokubonga Ngqulunga, a young chemical engineer is one of many whose horizons have broadened thanks to Engen. Reflecting on the significance of 16 June in our country’s history, Nokubonga’s advises the country’s youth to “own” their education: “We grow and learn by the amount that we involve ourselves in, and invest in, the process. Hard work is a pre-requisite to unlocking success.”

Nokubonga grew up in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal and matriculated from Estcourt High School. She then moved to Gauteng to attend the University of Johannesburg where she graduated with a B-Tech Chemical Engineering degree. As a middle child with two sisters, Nokubonga was raised by her mother, a single parent who understood the value of education. “My mom made sure that all of us attended school and did well academically. From a young age I looked up to and admired my mom, she truly is a superwoman.”

This focus on education and a desire to excel led her to the Engen Maths and Science School at Howard Campus from grade 10. “I had my first stepping stone when I was afforded the opportunity to attend Engen’s extra classes in maths, science. I attended supplementary classes every Saturday for three years until I matriculated. The EMSS classes really assisted with exam preparation and work progress.”

After school, Nokubonga was awarded a full bursary from Engen to study at tertiary level. “Education was always a priority in our household,” reflects Nokubonga, “and I think that is why I have never stopped pursuing my studies. I was to attain a BEng (Hons) qualification next and gain as much work experience in different areas of business as possible.” As of May, this year, Nokubonga is a proud Engen Graduate Trainee and works at the Engen Lubricants Blending Plant in Durban.

“It’s only been a month but I have already learnt so much and I’m looking forward to gaining more experience.” So, what is Nokubonga’s secret to success? “I believe that anything and everything is possible if you put in the hard work and believe in yourself. Having a mentor, who is aligned with your life goal is also a good idea as it helps to ensure that your dreams are realistic and achievable. “I motivate myself by always trying to remember the bigger picture and what I want to achieve. It may sound like a cliché but there is nothing more powerful than setting realistic goals and being passionate enough to achieve it.”

By continuing to attract and grow minds and talents like Nokubonga, and to shape the careers of talented graduates, Engen continues on its path shape the future for the better. Helping young gifted South Africans explore new horizons proves once again that as a company, Engen is committed to building tomorrow’s leaders.

Engen, in partnership with One-on-One Community Based Programme, recently ran a four-month training course for mathematics and physical science teachers from Mogwase district in the North West province aimed at preparing them for our rapidly evolving technological world.

Drawn from 20 participating schools, the teachers attended weekly training sessions at JM Ntsime High School from 18 January until 24 May 2019. Engen’s Corporate Social Investment Manager, Adhila Hamdulay says it has become essential to bridge the gap between theory and practical application as technology increasingly plays a crucial role in our everyday lives.

“This gap can be overcome by upskilling our teachers and providing them with easy access to the equipment, tools and skills that they require to introduce creative problem solving methods for maths and science.” The weekly sessions focused on providing the teachers with training in the latest technological advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics.

They were also taught how to apply creative and innovative thinking in order to navigate the future of teaching and learning. “The idea is to ensure that this knowledge is then passed onto learners. My Lab Kits for example provide physical science teachers with interactive and practical teaching skills,” adds Hamdulay. “The aim is to get learners into the science lab as we believe this hands-on-approach provides them with the opportunity to practically engage with technology and exposes them to cutting edge technological advancements.” The training course forms part of the Engen Maths & Science School (EMSS) programme.

EMSS is a national initiative that addresses key skills shortages in the engineering and technical fields by providing supplementary maths, science and English classes to learners from grades 10-12 at nine centres across South Africa. “Engen is 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, to reach their full potential,” says Hamdulay.