CONTINUED COMMITMENT LEADS TO IMPROVED EDUCATION
Toshiba Africa has continued to work with their CSR
partner, LEAP Science and Math schools 3 in Alexandra,
Johannesburg to build and renovate classrooms to ensure
safe operation and social distancing.
COVID 19 has certainly affected the lives of all, not to
mention the devasting effects it’s had on the global
economy. Most of all, lockdown exposed many inadequacies
and inequities in our education system in South Africa.
While the pandemic has hit hard everywhere, it has made
itself particularly felt in disadvantaged communities.
During the strict lockdown in March 2020, LEAP schools
started distance learning via mobile messaging system
and online meeting apps.
As many families had no income and found it difficult to
access devices and data bundles, LEAP management and
teachers made tremendous effort to ensure all the
students had necessary devices with data so that no one
was left behind at the difficult time. Toshiba Africa
was part of this joint effort and contributed to LEAP 3
at that time.
Lending a helping hand
Now, as lockdown eases, LEAP 3 faces new challenges of
ensuring the safety of students and teachers at school
facilities. Especially this year as LEAP 3 has a total
of 202 students, 40 more students than last year. To
accommodate these pupils, the school was in urgent need
of another classroom. As opposed to renting an
additional container, which is too costly, they opted
for a new log house classroom and to renovate one of
their existing classrooms.
Understanding their urgent need, Toshiba Group decided
to donate of total R83,000 to make their wishes
possible. A portion of the funding was used to build a 7
by 7 metre log wood classroom which can accommodate all
Grade 10 students in one room and the remainder was used
to build the walls of a classroom converted from storage
space.
Paving a way forward
As part of Toshiba Group’s philosophy, “Committed to
People, Committed to the Future”, the company has always
stood firm by improving the lives of people around the
world through its technology and services.
“We pride ourselves in being strong advocates for maths
and science education, so when the opportunity presented
itself to further strengthen our partnership with LEAP,
we jumped at it. The pandemic has certainly showed the
importance of good quality education, especially during
such challenging times. The progress and development of
the newly built classrooms makes us proud knowing that
we are able to contribute to providing quality
education,” says Iwasuke Shimada, Managing Director of
Toshiba Africa.
In Photo from left LEAP fund raiser Ms Prathna Naidoo, LEAP 3 Principal Ms Asanda Sigigaba, Toshiba Africa Managing director Mr Iwasuke Shimada
In a world that faces many problems, climate change
among them, Toshiba Group retains "Committed to
People, Committed to the Future." as its basic
commitment. This enduring credo underpins our
transition to become an infrastructure services
company active in a wide range of infrastructure and
electronic device businesses. As a manufacturer,
Toshiba has extensive knowledge and achievements in
physical technologies. We are combining these with
cyber technologies—information processing, digital
know-how and AI—allowing us to make full use of
cyber-physical- systems (CPS) technology in
solutions that support society and our customers. We
will also ensure sustainable growth by improving our
ESG (environmental, social and governance )
performance. Founded with a venture spirit that
still inspires, Our Purpose is to tackle social
issues, to contribute to the achievement of the
SDGs, and to turn on the promise of a new day.
Toshiba Africa aims to drive African development and
infrastructure through energy efficient solutions.
We are a fully owned subsidiary of Toshiba
Corporation Tokyo and are responsible for energy,
infrastructure and electronic products and services
within Sub Sahara Africa.
