Gqeberha, Eastern Cape - Orion Engineering Carbons (OEC), a company that produces carborn black, recently hosted a face-to-face engagement with 17 students from Nelson Mandela University who are beneficiaries of their bursary support program. The program started in 2022, and this was the first time the bursary beneficiaries visited the (OEC) site. The aim of the engagement was to introduce the students to OEC and give them an overview of what the company does.

The engagement was moderated by Clint Van Niekerk, who is the OEC Human Resources Manager. He introduced his colleagues, amongst them was OEC Human Resources Generalist Noluvuyo Magwa. The engagement began with a safety induction where the do's and don'ts were shared with the students when visiting the site. The beneficiaries were also introduced to the organization's evacuation procedure to give them a clear picture of how safety measures work inside OEC.

Nomfundo Faltein, the MD of the OEC plant, gave an overview of the company from where it's located to the products the company offers. The company produces carbon black, which is a powder engineered on their site mixed with oxygen and nitrogen to produce the color black. She emphasized the importance of producing quality, including safety and the environment, and highlighted that their plant is mainly producing black rubber carbon.

Orion Engineering Carbon used to be known as Phillips Carbon Black, until it was bought by OEC in 2011. The company prioritizes employing NMB residents as part of their value add to the city, and they also support a women's football club named Volcano Football Club from Motherwell. As per the presentation shared on the session the company seems to have happy employees, as their absenteeism rate is only 1.5%, and that number is only made up of normal family or sick leaves.

The company has various initiatives that they do to support the community, but the education side of it they feel is vital. Hence, the bursary support program that funds students to further their studies.

John Legoete, the MD of Career wise, the organization that is the middlemen between OEC and the students, appreciated what the opportunity does and thanked the students for making time to attend the gathering. He also encouraged the students to make use of the support they received.

The students also had an opportunity to share their experiences. Sanela Limba, a Diploma and Logistics second-year student, shared how she had benefited from the bursary and encouraged the organization to do more for other students. Ncedisa Ndlongwana, a 3rd Bachelor of Arts student, spoke about how she was wrongfully accused by NSFAS issues, and fortunately, she was accepted by the OEC bursary fund. She said, “some of us do not have parents but you showed up and brought back our hope”.

The event highlighted the importance of companies supporting education in disadvantaged communities. The OEC bursary support program is an example of how companies can impact the lives of students by providing them with opportunities to further their studies. It also shows how companies can prioritize the well-being of their employees by ensuring a safe and healthy working environment. The event was a success, and it is hoped that other companies will follow suit in supporting education and communities in need.

For more information, visit: www.orioncarbons.com