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SOCIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SAAB IN ACTION 2014 SAAB GRINTEK DEFENCE

Saab in aCTiOnsaab.com/globalassets/regional-websites/south-africa/newsletters/... · hese pupils - from Himalaya Secondary School, High School Silverton and Modiri Technical High

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Social Economic dEvElopmEnt

Saab in aCTiOn

2014

Saab GrintEk dEfEncE

Saab inspires girls with interactive career day 02

Saab Grintek Defence participates in Stop Hunger Southern Africa

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Saab supports the community of Mamelodi by sponsoring 10 computers to the Mamelodi IT centre

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Saab visits Children on the Move and donates it’s April charity drive

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Saab supports the community of Mamelodi by developing SMME’s together with Siyakha.

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Handover of LEGEND Training System at School of Signals

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Social Economic Development in brief 08

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Social Economic Development: Creation of valuable and lasting participation in the economy.

aab Grintek Defence plays an important role in the socio-economic development of South Africa and has a long standing Corporate Social

Investment programme which is aligned with national priorities as well as the pillars under Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE). Saab Grintek Defence is engaged in the promotion of the quality of life through key focus areas and through its support and involvement in various projects and initiatives.

The Group helps to facilitate sustainable access to the economy for the communities. In order to become a preferred corporate citizen, Saab Grintek Defence embraces the view that Corporate Social Investment is an important component of Socio-Economic Development. The Socio-Economic Development approach for a transforming South Africa requires a collective collaboration across the broad spectrum of government, private sector and communities, as well as investment in sustainable initiatives that reflect true empowerment.

Editor’S notE

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contEntS

SAAB IN ACTION | 2014

Saab inSpirES GirlS with intEractivE carEEr day

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“Challenge today and anticipate tomorrow.” With these wise words some thirty girl learners from various schools in Gauteng were welcomed to Saab South Africa’s local head office to experience life as an engineer.

hese pupils - from Himalaya Secondary School, High School Silverton and Modiri Technical High - were visiting Saab as part of its annual Take a Girl Child to Work-day.

This day offers girls an interactive experience where they are treated to career advice and insights into a specific company in order to gain valuable insight into their anticipated career path.

Saab Grintek Defence, with its specialised focus on defence and security technology, draws particular interest from pupils who plan to follow a career in engineering – however, as was highlighted on the day, a career path at Saab doesn’t need to be pigeon holed to include those in the engineering field alone.

Aspects from system engineering to electronic engineering and the finer aspects of microchip development were covered on the day, with emphasis also placed on career opportunities in the communication and administrative fields at Saab.

Learners were taken on a tour of the Saab facilities where they got the opportunity to observe the major advances of 3D printing, defence utilities and microwave facilities – a highlight for many of the learners.

The anechoic chamber, with its room kitted with sponge-like pyramid spikes, was described as a fascinating experience by the learners, who, under the insightful guidance by Dr. Dirk Baker, got the opportunity to observe the specialised echo-free room where microwave frequencies are tested.

Boipelo Mabale, a grade 10 pupil at High School Silverton, described this as her best experience of the day.

The day’s teachings were put into practice with an interactive game simulating a production line. The game, for which learners had to use Lego blocks to build an airplane, aimed to illustrate the benefits of streamlining work processes, and also proved to be a huge highlight on the day.

Mrs. Betty Phoshoko, who teaches Life Orientation at Modiri Technical High, said that experiences like the Take a Girl Child to Work initiative provides invaluable guidance to her pupils. “It is of particular relevance to pupils from Modiri Technical, where we teach mechanical, electronic and civil engineering. I will definitely bring another group next year.”

Apart from inspiring a career path, Saab’s Take a Girl Child to Work-day also inspired learners on an aspirational level.

Lehlogonolo Dithole, who is in the 11th grade at Himalaya Secondary School, commented: “This day has inspired me to learn more and study harder. It was great.”

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“..the Take a Girl Child to Work initiative provides invaluable guidance..”

SAAB IN ACTION | 2014

Saab employees volunteered to work together to assist famished communities in Southern Africa. They did this by donating for the Stop Hunger Now organisation, a volunteer based meal packaging and results oriented nutrition programme.

top Hunger Southern Africa has a vision for the region to be without hunger with a mission to achieve transformation through education.

They believe that a child can’t learn on an empty stomach, and therefore the donated food is used to achieve measurable results as set out in Early Childhood Development programmes.

Saab employees managed to package 10 000 meals in record breaking time – just two hours! Each employee was stationed at a designated work station and assigned a specific duty. ‘Work Station 1’ involved packaging the dry ingredients, which was soya mince, vegetable mix, rice and a pack of ten different multi vitamins into a plastic bag. ‘Work Station 2’ had to take the bag filled with ingredients and weigh it according to specific measurements. Once weighed correctly, it had to be properly sealed. ‘Work Station 3’ had the responsibility of labelling the packaging and placing it into a box which would be delivered to the hungry and less fortunate children of South Africa.

Saab GrintEk dEfEncE participatES in Stop hunGEr SouthErn africa

S ..delivered to the hungry and less fortunate children of South africa.

ANTICIPATING TOMOrrOW By ADDrESSING

CHANGING ENvIrONMENTS AND NEEDS

03SAAB IN ACTION | 2014

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Saab participated in the official launch of the Stanza Bopape Library and Information Centre in Mamelodi, a beneficiary of Saab as official sponsor of the centre’s computers.

he project sprouted from Saab’s involvement on the enterprise development front, where small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME’s) were assisted by

the company to develop into fully-fledged and independent companies. As a result of this the City of Tshwane awarded a tender for the development of the Stanza Bopape Library and Information Centre to a group of these developed SMME’s.

The Centre was established to give learners the opportunity to access internet and printing facilities and to provide them with the opportunity to learn how to fight poverty by searching online for job applications. In due course skills and information shared here will make the residents more employable.

Saab, as mentor and ongoing supporter of the SMME’s, responded to the Programme Manager’s need for computers for the information centre. The project was incorporated into Saab’s Social and Economic Development programme for 2013, and the much-needed computers donated as a result.

Today the facility boasts computers, free 2km wi-fi radius, free printing facilities and a fully operational library. The MMC for Sport, Arts, recreation and Culture, Nosipho Makeke-Tyobeka, urged the community to take ownership of the facility and use it wisely to improve their daily lives.

Saab officially handed this project over to the City of Tshwane on 7th February 2014, the municipality will now maintain the centre to ensure the community of Mamelodi has full access to the free wi-fi available at all times in the centre.

Saab SupportS thE community of mamElodi by SponSorinG 10 computErS to thE mamElodi it cEntrE

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..provide them with the opportunity to learn how to fight poverty..

SAAB IN ACTION | 2014

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Saab employees from South Africa donated goods which would be delivered to a charity. The process of choosing the right charity can be extremely difficult because of the great need in South Africa for NGO’s and financial aid for them to exist.

he chosen charity for this project was Children on the Move which is a charity focusing on vulnerable children affected by HIv and AIDS, developing the skills of the

youth in the community as well as helping abused women. Children on the Move caters for more than 400 orphans and vulnerable children on a daily basis. It provides services such as providing breakfast, lunch boxes, prepared meals, assistance with homework, home visits, support groups, psycho-social and spiritual support as well as sporting and cultural activities.

Saab viSitS childrEn on thE movE and donatES it’S april charity drivE

In many cases, the meal the children receive at Children on the Move is the only meal they eat that day.

Saab employees volunteered their time by taking the day to prepare wholesome soup for 150 children at the premises in Attridgeville. The process the children undergo each day at Children on the Move begins when they arrive at the premises at roughly 13:30pm where they first need to sign their name to the register. They then receive their first meal for the day. After they eat they are encouraged to take part in activities that are organised for the day. At all times a social worker is present to assist any child who is facing difficulties within the home. Before they leave, each child is sent home with a 1/3 loaf of bread to eat for dinner.

Towards the end of the day, Saab was greeted with a thank you song followed by a choir performance.

The company hopes to conduct more of these charity drives in the future as the smallest donation can make the largest impact on any individual’s life. Change begins with the first one who is ready to make it. Together we can make a difference!

Children on the Move cater for more than 400 orphans and vulnerable children on a daily basis.

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SAAB IN ACTION | 2014

Saab appeared at a Meet and Greet event hosted by Siyakha Consulting in the town of Mamelodi. The event was to celebrate the success stories of ten individual Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) who were chosen by Siyakha to take place in an Enterprise Development programme sponsored by Saab.

aab’s contribution has changed lives in the township of Mamelodi since the ultimate purpose of the project is to lead a sizeable number of small and mid-sized

black businesses to reach sustainable financial and operational independence as well as job creation. The importance of these projects is to expand economic development and to help create profound entrepreneurs in South Africa. SMME’s are extremely important for local economic development in South Africa and are often faced with many challenges in raising sufficient funds to help them grow successful and sustainable businesses.

Many of the chosen applicants have successful companies in the construction industry with the help of Saab and Siyakha. “We saw an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. We received a lot of support in training, management, practical onsite training, learning how to pay bills, buy materials, put on a mark-up on our products, we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” says Abraham from Mampuru and Edgar Construction Projects cc.

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Saab SupportS thE community of mamElodi by dEvElopinG SmmE’S toGEthEr with Siyakha.

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..to expand economic development and to help create profound entrepreneurs in South africa.

SAAB IN ACTION | 2014

The centre is located at the School of Signals at Wonderboom in Pretoria.

he LEGEND Training Centre has the capability to provide a training course for up to 25 pupils, from beginner’s to advanced administrator’s level. The goal is to educate in

all aspects of the CHAKA System as it is utilised in the OUCSS environment (Operational Urgent Command & Control System).

The training centre was designed and developed by the Land Team of the Command & Control Department of Saab Grintek Defence in Centurion. The team was also responsible for the installation work and commissioning at the Wonderboom site.

Attendees present at the handover were dignitaries and personnel from the Army, Armscor Programme Manager and personnel and team members from Saab Grintek Defence.

The event began by a warm welcoming from Lt Col J Nel followed by a brief history of the LEGEND project by Brig Gen Leon Eggers who is currently the General Officer Commanding of the South African Army Signal Formation.

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handovEr of lEGEnd traininG SyStEm at School of SiGnalS

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Herman Gouws from Saab Grintek Defence gave a demonstration of the classroom functionality. “The course leader, commonly known as the facilitator, uses the Facilitator Workstation to give instructions to the pupils, each at his/her own workstation. The Facilitator has the ability to monitor the progress of each individual pupil. This system makes provision for candidates to be evaluated against the course requirements and to be declared competent” says Gouws.

“Saab Grintek Defence is very proud of the end result. There has been a constructive role played by all parties throughout the process” says Pieter reynecke, head of the Land Team at Saab Grintek Defence.

There was a viewing of the MCCS and SCCS equipment outside the classroom. It is for competency on this equipment that the Training Centre provides detailed training.

The event was concluded with a small social function.

The spirit of cooperation exhibited by all role-players during this phase of the delivery of Project LEGEND bodes well for the future.

The goal is to educate in all aspects of the CHaKa System..

SAAB IN ACTION | 2014

Saab participates in CANSA’s relay for Life

Saab once again sponsored the Cancer Association of South Africa’s (CANSA) relay for Life which took place on Pretoria’s military fields this year. The purpose of CANSA’s Relay for Life is to educate, unite, and support those communities who are suffering or who have suffered with the loss of a family member or friend from cancer. In solidarity of brave cancer survivors, employees of Saab took it upon themselves to spray-paint their hair for cancer awareness.

Saab Established CSr Ilabs in Limpopo and rustenburg

The iLabs that Saab established at Freedom Park Secondary School in Limpopo and rustenburg have proven to be of great assistance to both students and teachers making use of the facilities. Students can use the iLabs when working on assignments that need research; often these subjects include Business Studies, Economics and Biology. The iLabs are also used for e-Learning which includes online Physics experiments. “It is really working well for the students, especially when they are given assignments to research. They can find information globally using the internet”, says Makhubalo Doreen, Head teacher of Business Studies at Freedom Park Secondary School.

Saab Donates to vastfontein Orphanage

As part of Saab’s CSr work in South Africa, Saab donated a truck-full of household equipment to the vastfontein community transformation school where four orphan houses are on the premises catering for over 15 orphaned children.

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Social Economic dEvElopmEnt in briEf

Saab participates in the global initiative: 67minutes for Nelson Mandela Day

Saab participated in the global movement of Nelson Mandela day by taking the vastfontein Children’s home to the zoo – a trip that was both entertaining and educational. Most of the children have never been to a zoo or even gone on an outing.

raven Kenned, an excelling bursary student sponsored by Saab

Saab went to check in on raven Kenned who is currently in his third year studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering, specializing in Informatics at Stellenbosch University. Saab believes it is important to promote top engineering graduates in South Africa and is continuously monitoring Kenned’s progress. Kenned’s is regarded as an ambassador for Saab at the University of Stellenbosch, and the company is proud to announce that he is excelling on all fronts!

Saab sponsors the South African National War College

On the 8th of August 2013, Saab Grintek Defence contributed a large consignment of military literature and books to the South African National War College’s (SANWC) library for use by learners attending the Joint Senior Command and Staff Programme.

The SANWC is the military’s educational facility tasked to qualify commanders and senior staff officers at the operational level of war.

The SANWC ultimately trains and prepares the SANDF’s future commanders and it’s therefore no coincidence that Saab plays a vital role in supporting the SANWC in all its endeavours.

SAAB IN ACTION | 2014

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Contact number: +27 12 672 8302 www.saabgroup.com/southafrica

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.

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