FMCSA supports the Mamelodi FET College by donating educational and training equipment material. FMCSA is also represented on the college's governing body.
FMCSA in coloration with the college developed an on-campus engineering and automotive related facilities that include a panel-beating and spray-painting facility; an automotive workshop for which FMCSA has donated mounted engines, gearboxes and rear axles as well as a brake training simulator for the workshop.
In addition to this, students from the college undergo experiential training at FMCSA. Some staff members of the college have been trained as safety representatives, enabling the college to establish a Safety, Health and Environment Committee.
In turn, Mamelodi FET College lecturers spend four evenings a week at the FMCSA plant in Pretoria, assisting employees with Maths, Science, Industrial Technology, Technical Drawing and Communication related subjects. Former employees undergo a FMCSA sponsored ABE training programme through the college.
The College has also been afforded the use of an on-site FMCSA Education & Training facility, which is used for business study courses level N4 to N6.
Since 1998 this joint venture between the Financial Mail, McCarthy Motor Holdings and the Read Educational Trust has identified schools in rural areas in desperate need of books. Unfortunately, with education authorities struggling to meet needs of most rural communities, these schools tend to be in dire in need of the most basic educational materials. Being far removed from the major centres lamentably means being far from the top of the priority list.
The programme gives both companies and individuals an opportunity to make a difference. Every year the Rally-to-Read delivers box libraries containing English books to these schools by means of 4x4 vehicles. Sponsors are invited to come along and see how their money is being spent. Read also instructs the Teachers on how to use the books and conducts on-site training and monitoring.
FMCSA participates in the Rally-to Read initiative through a donation and the use of our vehicles.
MEDICOS, situated in Soshanguve, a township located north of Pretoria, is a special day care centre which caters for children with mental illnesses. Most of these children come from within the township as well as nearby and surrounding townships, including Mabopane and Garankuwa.
One of the biggest challenges faced by these children was that they often strayed en route to the centre and on their way back home in the afternoon. Some of them were often subjected to abuse while walking to school. To help alleviate this problem, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa provided transport in the form of a bus, which is also regularly serviced free of charge by the company.
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa recently donated R15 000 to the MEDICOS Special School as part of an annual and ongoing contribution. The funds were being used to set up the school’s welding project, with the hope that by learning this valuable skill many students from the school will be able to progress into the workplace.
In addition to this, staff members make donations in the form of cash or valuable items on a needs basis.
Informative guided tours through the manufacturing plant are regularly presented to school and student groups, groups from less privileged communities and groups of disabled or handicapped people. These visits are not only viewed as a leisure time activity for the groups concerned, they also play an important educational role at grass roots level, and stimulate the future career choices of visitors in their formative years.
