Samsung Electronics recently commemorated its Foundation Day on November 1, 2024. This year, the festivities extended beyond a single day as all Samsung offices around the world participated in the Samsung Employee Volunteering Programme from 1 to 14 November.
While Samsung was established in January 1969, the company chose its Foundation Day to be November 1 as it was the day when the company merged with Samsung Semiconductor & Communications to form Samsung Electronics in 1988.
The Samsung Employee Volunteering Programme reflected Samsung’s ongoing dedication to making a positive impact in society and empowering communities around the world. It aimed to engage employees, who heeded the call positively, in a wide range of volunteer activities, reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.
In South Africa, Samsung employees took part in the below series of programmes designed to uplift vulnerable communities, fostering meaningful engagement and driving positive change.
- Buhlebemfundo Secondary School Painting Project
On November 6, Samsung employees volunteered their time to paint classrooms at Buhlebemfundo Secondary School in Tsakane, Brakpan (east of Johannesburg). This school was a 2023 and 2024 finalist in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow initiative, which encourages creative problem-solving among students from underserved communities through science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM. The 28-member team of volunteers rolled up their sleeves as they painted and refurbished the entire Grade 8 Block at the school, which included six classrooms in total.
- Accelerated Training in Entrepreneurship
From 4 to 8 November, Samsung hosted an Accelerated Training in Entrepreneurship for early start-ups and graduates of its software development skills programme at Tshimologong Precinct in Gauteng and The University of the Western Cape (UWC). This initiative was created to equip the young emerging entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge to succeed in business. The participants were enrolled in two separate 5-day entrepreneurship boot camps: one hosted at Tshimologong Precinct for 11 beneficiaries, and the other at UWC for 12 beneficiaries. Moreover, Samsung South Africa employees also volunteered their time to share some important skills and lessons with the young up-and-coming entrepreneurs and the topics included finance, legal and compliance, digital and corporate marketing, and sales. At the end of the boot camps, the participants had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas for seed funding to inject into their ventures. Six were selected as the winners (top three from Tshimologong and UWC respectively), and they will receive funding to the tune of R1 million, which will be allocated to support critical operational needs such as equipment, furniture, rental costs, and other business expenses. The seed funding will be distributed by Tshimologong and UWC to ensure it is used as intended and supports the participants’ growth. They will also receive support for a period of six months, in the form of business coaching and mentoring and other non-financial backing.
- E- waste Collection Campaign
In a bid to promote environmental sustainability, Samsung South Africa conducted an e-waste collection campaign at the Head Office in Bryanston from 1 to 12 November. Employees were encouraged to bring in their electronic waste for recycling, with collection bins placed in the building. Various electronic devices were collected including laptops, desktop computers, televisions, and mobile devices, printers etc. The collected e-waste, which also included that from Samsung’s service centre and warehouse (fridges, TVs, washing machines etc.), will be donated to Matongoni General Trading, a Johannesburg-based recycler specialising in post-consumer plastic waste and electronic materials. Matongoni will in turn dismantle the collected e-waste into valuable fractions, including plastics and metals, which will be pre-processed and recycled into raw materials for new products.
Lenhle Khoza, Manager: BBBEE & Transformation at Samsung Electronics: “Samsung Foundation Day is not just a celebration of our history; it is also an excellent opportunity for us to make a meaningful impact in the communities where we operate. The Samsung Employee Volunteering Programme provided a unique and special opportunity for Samsung employees get to connect with and support our communities as we foster positive change and empower those in need and improve the environment. The future is truly what we make it and we want to play our part as a corporate citizen, and as individuals. Through these initiatives, we not only gave back but also hope we contributed to stimulating a culture of volunteerism and social responsibility within our organisation and beyond.”
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