Working with I Can! we’re helping people learn that they can!

Our South Africa Aluminium operation at Hillside teamed up with I Can! to launch a Learnership Academy at its Enterprise Development Village in Richards Bay, South Africa in 2017.

Through the Academy, 30 people with physical or intellectual disabilities complete a specialised Learnership Programme that will give them greater independence and social connection, and help them get jobs.

South32 Vice President Operations South Africa Aluminium, Noel Pillay, said that our partnership with I Can! has helped many people in other areas by addressing development and employment opportunities, and improving the perception of disability in the workplace.

“During the past four years, we’ve sponsored the training and development of 14 learners at the I Can! Disability Academy in Durban North, and sponsored work experience for 56 people through I Can! sister company, Khulisani,” Mr Pillay said in 2017.

“We are proud to be launching this Academy to help the people of the Richards Bay, Empangeni region. All 30 learners are from the local area.”

Buhle Happiness Zuma, who we sponsored to complete an earlier programme, said it had helped her realise her ambition of getting long-term employment.

"After I finished my learnership at I Can! in 2015 I started work with Khulisani in the babies’ home and I’ve been there ever since,” she said.

I Can! is a majority black-owned business with eight academies across South Africa. More than 800 people have obtained qualifications through its learnership programmes.