Investing in South Africa's youth through social responsibility programmes
Healthy living, work-life balance and youth development are important strategic focus areas and underpin two of our high-profile corporate social responsibility projects, the DSV Shift Academy and the SA Rugby Legends (SARLA).
DSV Shift Academy programme
The DSV Shift Academy develops promising cyclists into well-rounded, responsible adults.
In addition to standard physiological coaching, Academy members attend educational talks on a range of topics from life skills advice, social media skills, to bicycle maintenance and racing tactics. Grade 10, 11 and 12 members also get career guidance and parents are kept regularly informed of their progress.
After school, the riders complete their homework before training on the track and surrounding roads. The training is supervised and based on each rider’s level and goals with a professional coaching plan, and there is race entry and race day support, with the overall focus on grooming the riders to reach provincial and national level.
South African Rugby Legends Association
DSV’s sponsorship helps SARLA maintain its VUKA sustainable rugby programme, a partnership between SARLA and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) which promotes rugby in disadvantaged communities.
Development projects focus on young players in disadvantaged communities who have traditionally been excluded from structured rugby training and grassroots level competition. By nurturing the personal growth and athletic potential of these youngsters, we hope they gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed on and off the field.
Vuka seeks to uplift individuals, and by extension communities, by creating opportunities for talented players to develop to professional levels. Some 2,200 youngsters aged between 15-17 receive regular training from qualified coaches, and teams play one another at regional tournaments to develop a sense of belonging and aspiration.
These sponsorships complement our commitment to youth development through the DSV’s Learnership Programme (more than1,900 learnerships completed in 18 years) and the DSV Empowerment Trust, which has awarded more than 1,098 bursaries to black youth since 2005.
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