The organization recognizes that thousands of graduates enter the job market on an annual basis, with many unable to gain employment because of a lack of work experience. There clearly exists a gap between theoretical knowledge gained via tertiary education studies and the requirements of the real world of work a gap, which must be plugged if career opportunities are to become a widespread reality.

Dube TradePort Corporation offers a Bursary Scheme, or financial assistance, to students who are resident in KwaZulu-Natal and who display a meaningful interest in pursuing a tertiary qualification. Applicants should have already been accepted/provisionally accepted/or be in possession of a CAO application receipt to be considered for the Financial Assistance Programme

22

R1.2 million

KwaZulu-Natal

This initiative assists in providing girls from historically disadvantaged backgrounds with sanitary towels. The purpose of the intervention is to help ensure that girls are able to attend school uninterrupted, in spite of having to endure their menstrual cycles.

1 500

R450 000

eThekwini and Ndwedwe Municipalities

This project helps small or emerging farmers with seedlings, tools, and training. In recent times, the organization has focused on assisting small-scale farmers with identifying new markets for their produce. The organization has also been responsible for organizing market days, enabling these farmers to sell their products to members of staff.

10 cooperatives

R100 000

eThekwini and Ndwedwe Municipality

This project sets out to ensure the provision of renewable energy to schools in areas surrounding Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone. Its purpose is to augment the energy needs of schools and, in the long-term, assist in appreciably reducing school operating costs, with electricity having been identified as one of the highest input costs to running a school.

10 schools

R3 million

eThekwini Municipal area surrounding Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone

In view of this, Dube TradePort Corporation continues to play a meaningful and proactive role in contributing towards the bridging of this gap, by assisting in preparing young graduates for the workplace through a range of learning and skills development opportunities. In this regard, the organisation has developed and implemented two skills development programmes.