Tata International commits to supporting the ‘Bridging for Life’ initiative for two more years

May 11, 2022

The Tata International team in Africa supports the ‘Bridging for Life’ programme to assist over 70 per cent of learners participating in the Valued Citizen Initiative (VCI) to further their education. Its objective is to bridge the gap between high school and higher learning institutions and equip learners with lifelong skills.

The ‘Bridging for Life’ programme was established in 2010 under the VCI, an NGO accredited by the Gauteng Department of Higher Education and Training, with the aim to develop citizenship education in public schools. Tata International has supported the ‘Bridging for Life’ Programme for more than seven years and has previously donated mathematical guides, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and motivational books to Grade 12 learners from Alexandra High School in Alexandra, Gauteng.

‘Bridging for Life’ is a two-year extracurricular programme customised for Grade 11 and 12 learners. The programme’s objective is to equip learners with lifelong skills including communication skills, emotional intelligence, self-discipline, leadership skills, problem-solving, decision-making skills, personal and career development planning, courage and self-confidence, and budgeting. It has proven its effectiveness over the years in assisting learners through the transition from high school to institutions of higher learning.

Based on the programme’s effectiveness over the years, Tata International continues to support the initiative for another two years. The schools to receive aid in 2022 and 2023 are Cosmo City Secondary School and Emadwaleni High School.

“As part of our philosophy of giving back to society many times over, Tata International aims to do business in a manner that elevates leaders in our communities. This will be done through education and promoting local communities’ social and economic development,” said Mr Len Brand, CEO, Tata International Africa. Our objective is to help increase the number of young people prepared to take up leadership roles in business, government, and civil society. We are committed to empowering and transforming lives through education, which is one of the key components of the Tata business values and belief system,” added Mr Brand.

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