Sasol Report to Society 2020 - Book - Page 99
Volunteering has a long history in North America
and remains the backbone of charitable giving in all
forms ranging from the giving of time and skills to
finances. Our colleagues in North America continue
with this legacy and provided much needed
resources to members within their communities.
This year, our employees volunteered
nearly 1 200 hours impacting several
organisations and community members.
In the Lake Charles area, 70 Sasol for Good
volunteers performed hands-on, scientific
demonstrations for over
3 000 sixth graders as part of the Lake Area
Industry Alliance’s Chemistry Expo hosted to create
awareness and promote STEM subjects.
CASE STUDY
Sasol For Good
Enabling small
businesses to survive
and thrive
Sasol recognises that its operations
will only be successful if its
communities share in its successes
and remain sustainable over the long
term.
Our commitment, therefore, goes beyond our plant
operations and extends into our neighbouring
communities where we work to develop and
promote people-centred, long-term sustainable
programmes through our social investment
initiatives.
In partnership with the Louisiana Small Business
Development Center (LSBDC) at McNeese State
University and the Southwest Louisiana Economic
Development Center, Sasol has helped develop a
business resource guide. The guide outlines steps
for individuals interested in starting new businesses
and provides recommendations for existing
businesses that want to build working relationships
within their industries.
Sasol has also been funding monthly certification
workshops and small business development training
sessions for businesses and entrepreneurs in the
area. These workshops explore how local businesses
could qualify for opportunities by virtue of being
small, disadvantaged, run by minority groups or
women, or being HUBZone -certified. The HUBZone
programme is part of the US Small Business
Administration (SBA) and targets boosting small
business growth in historically underutilised
business zones.
Employees contributed US$147 355 (about
R2,3 million) and Sasol added US$113 861 (about
R1,78 million) which was donated to about 158
organisations enabling social value delivering to
communities.
Hosted eight STEM demonstrations
at local children’s museum. Demonstrations were
performed by Sasol employees.
Eight volunteers participated in Mad Scientist/
Halloween events at two ‘Partners in Education’ schools.
50 mentors participating in communityorganisation facilitated mentorship programme for
‘at-risk’ youth.
Between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020,
there were 21 workshops with 281 attendees. Topics
covered at the workshops ranged from Accounting
to Management and Tax Planning.
A youth-focused workshop was also held for 15 high
school students and 25 McNeese State University
students. The workshops were well received with
many attendees indicating that the information was
presented in an easy and understandable format.
The workshops followed a period of high economic
growth and industrial development in Southwest
Louisiana, which have brought incredible
opportunities to the fore. This is despite the impact
of Covid-19 and Hurricane Laura.
Sasol’s partnership with the LSBDC over the past
seven years has provided business education for
more than 1 537 people throughout Southwest
Louisiana. Plans are in the pipeline for further
training and workshops in the future.
Sasol In Society: 2020 Report
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