STC Group -

South African Development Trust

For more than a decade the STC-Group has been involved in numerous transport, logistical and maritime-related projects and interventions in South Africa. These interventions are typically characterised by capacity building and development-oriented objectives. They are implemented with the rich pool of expertise of the STC-Group in Rotterdam , for the benefit of the local transport economy.

The STC-Group registered a company and operationalised STC-Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd in 2003. This gave new impetus to an operational framework that puts at its forefront the transport sector knowledge migration from the Netherlands towards a well established transport economy in South Africa, particularly from a maritime industry perspective.

The Board of STC-Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd has embarked on a strategy in implementing a meaningful development programme for the previously disenfranchised rural people of South Africa. They established and registered the STC Group - South African Development Trust in pursuit of providing measurable support and upliftment to these previously disadvantaged individuals and communities.

The trust acquired shareholding (equity) in STC-Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. It receives its income in the form of annual voluntary contributions from the STC-Group in the Netherlands and from dividends (proceeds) from the activities of STC-Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. The Board of Trustees considers it fortunate for having acquired The Honourable Patronage of internationally renowned Poet, Author and former political activist Dr. Don Mattera.

The trust gives preference to communities and hence schools from rural areas in South Africa, where the greatest poverty and lack of opportunities for study and work for school leavers are to be found. One such school - hopefully the first of many and identified by the Trust as a recipient of Donor Funds, was Groenberg Secondary School in Grabouw, Western Cape. GSS as it is affectionately known by STC-SA employees, with Mr. A. Hess at the helm, put forward various proposals of which three were approved by the Board of Trustees, i.e.:

Learner Support - Whereby financial assistance is provided to learners in paying their school fees for the year.

Education Trust Fund - Whereby entrance fees to Tertiary institutes for identified learners are paid.

Engineering Department - Establishment of a new Engineering Department with equipment such as lathes, computers, extractors, etc.

Funds totalling R240 000 donated by the Trust in Year 1 went a long way in alleviating some of the financial constraints facing this community.

In the second year of its establishment, the STC-Group South African Development Trust continued it's sponsorship of Groenberg Secondary School in Grabouw. The school proposed various programmes of which three were identified by the trust for support. The programmes approved by the Board of Trustees included:

Learner Support - Due to the success of this programme in 2008, it was decided to again provide 60 learners with financial assistance. Funds donated for this programme would provide school fees, uniform and stationery for the year.

Further Education Bursary Fund - This programme too is a continuation from 2008. 20 Learners would be provided with financial assistance to cover registration fees to Tertiary institutes.

Marine Environmental Awareness Course - The trust identified this 1 day programme, which is run by Cape Windjammers . The programme will also assist with creating awareness of future career paths within the Marine environment. The programme will be provided to 20-30 learners and 2 teachers as identified by the school.

In addition to the above, the trust identified a second school, Bethelsdorp High School, in Port Elizabeth as a beneficiary. The school submitted various programmes to the Trust for consideration of which three (3) were approved for funding. The programmes included:

Learner Support - It was decided to provide 40 learners with financial assistance. This assistance would cover school fees, uniform and stationery for the year.

Grade 12 Learner Orientation Programme - This proposed programme would significantly increase the probability of learners passing their final Grade 12 examination. This has a positive impact on the surrounding community in that learners are eligible to continue with tertiary technical studies.

Teacher Strategic Workshop - The need for this programme became evident, during various meetings and interactions with the school. The aim was to provide teachers with a strategic planning workshop, where all staff would contribute toward the development of programmes to improve the quality of learning provided by them.

The total funding to both schools in 2009 was R207, 460.00. The Trustees are confident that these programmes make a meaningful difference in the lives of these communities.