F’SASEC hosts Schneider Electric Teachers’ Mission Entrepreneurship Training
F’SASEC hosts Schneider Electric Teachers’ Mission Entrepreneurship Training
Attendees for the Entrepreneurship Awareness Training
Bulelwa Mnguni
On 26 September, Schneider Electric and its Teachers’ Mission, held a training session on Entrepreneurship Awareness for students at the French South African Schneider Electric Education Centre (F’SASEC) at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT).
The event was organised by Schneider Electric (SA) employee, Mr Williem Opperman.
The training included topics such as: What is an entrepreneur? What is a business? What you need to start and run a business and reasons why people do not start businesses. Mr Opperman went into further details concerning various components of a business and the challenges one will encounter when starting or running a business. The training also included practical outdoor activities.
Mr Opperman said: “With Schneider Electric always trying to look for ways to uplift the community, the Teacher’s Mission is used as the stepping-stone to provide necessary skills to improve the lives of our internal and external stakeholders. We take pride and are passionate about teaching and equipping the community with skills to better themselves”.
“I always look forward to the entrepreneurship training and encourage the students to attend and participate because there is so much to learn from these trainings. The entrepreneurship training taught me a lot about the importance of using an idea, need or opportunity in the community to start a business. Now I have my own successful house-wiring installation business. I am very hands-on in the day-to-day running of my business and I have created employment for two artisans,” said Luvo Dubula, a former student and graduate of F’SASEC who is also currently a lab assistant at the Centre of Excellence.
The training ended with an award ceremony, with students receiving certificates.
“Today’s training has taught me to believe not only in myself, but in my ideas; to always know that even if my business fails, I can go back to the drawing board and start again. The drive or passion for my idea will also determine the values and success of my business,” said Ms Nonhlanhla Mngemane, who is currently in the Industry 4.0 Class.
The Centre of Excellence looks forward to increasing the skills and qualifications of its students in order to produce efficient, employable and qualified Artisans.
The Schneider Electric Teachers’ mission was created in June 2012 by Schneider Electric and its Foundation. The NGO aims at promoting and supporting voluntary commitment from Schneider Electric employees and retirees to assist in development courses, such as short courses in PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and starter motors, electrical wiring practical courses, entrepreneurship and advanced entrepreneurship.