Hyundai Automotive South Africa has handed over a brand-new library and learning centre to Lavela Secondary School in Soweto – the 22nd sponsorship of its kind and part of the company’s ongoing corporate social investment programme in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company in Korea and the DP World Motus Community Trust.
About 800 learners of Lavela Secondary School were present at the event where principal Neo Sithole thanked the sponsors of the library and pledged to “use it effectively and efficiently, and in our purpose as educators to accompany our learners to responsible adulthood, to produce refined and cultured adults. The library, the resource centre will contribute to that”.
Gideon Jansen van Rensburg, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa, said it was an honour to stand in front of the school’s learners and hand over the library. “You are deserving recipients, and should all be very proud of yourself.
“The Hyundai library legacy commemorates our values and corporate investment initiatives. We pride ourselves in giving back to the community that lives among us. We believe in education as a sustainable way to change lives for the better.”
Jansen van Rensburg said one’s current situation does not have to determine one’s future. “You are the only person in charge of your future. Educate yourself to become better informed about opportunities.
“Today is like giving your school an airplane. Some of you will be scared to use it, some of you will just be passengers on the ride. But there is an opportunity for everyone to learn to become the pilot on this airplane.
“You need to be able to read with comprehension to understand. The world is evolving; we see it every day in our business. Artificial intelligence is taking over. The internet is the place where everybody goes. But the basis of all of this is you need to be able to read and understand what you read so when people tell you a story you can verify that it is the truth.”
Hyundai Automotive SA’s library corporate social investment in education started in 2013 with its initiative to create libraries and learning resource centres at schools in previously disadvantaged communities in the south of Gauteng. Since 2013, 22 libraries have been donated to schools in the region at a total investment cost of about R31,5 million.
The sponsorship includes the salary for a trained librarian for the library and resource centre.
