“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”NELSON MANDELA

T H E W I S D O M

EQUITY FOR EDUCATION Reaching out at grassroots level to empower young South Africans through share dividends.T H E E M P O W E R M E N T I N I T I AT I V E

WITH THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS, WITHOUT

WHOM NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

T H E G R AT I T U D E

100 100% 2076

Joshua Williams FINE ARTIST

In 2009 Polyoak shareholders donated 10% of share ownership and future dividend income to educate the children of both Polyoak employees and our broader community and give them an opportunity to fulfil their dreams and establish themselves within their chosen careeers.

To date more than 100 students have qualified in a wide variety of skillsets – from accountants, teachers, hairdressers and nurses to plumbers, doctors and sports trainers. Today 25 students graduate a year - over 50% are female and 100% of our alumni are successfully employed and economically active.

These determined young adults are now set on a path towards making a meaningful contribution to society and our country.

BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE THROUGH EQUITY INTO EDUCATION.

Every child deserves a strong grounding in mathematics and accounting, and yet these expertise are lacking in many schools in high-need areas.

Teachers Plus was born to take talented students from these communities and turn them into expert teachers specialising in accounting or mathematics.

So much more than a scholarship, this intensive five-year degree programme produces highly professional teachers and offers more than 20 students per year full support, including:• Specialised mathematics and accounting training • Life coaching • Enrichment workshops • Best practice teaching experience • Exposure to a professional working environment.

TEACHERS PLUS – CREATING EXCEPTIONAL FUTURE EDUCATORS

Aimed at empowering the children of employees, the Polyoak Foundation helps to fund and support students on campuses across the nation.

Bursaries are offered to matriculants of all academic levels who have the desire and determination to study further. In this way children who could otherwise be overlooked are also helped towards gainful careers.

Key to its success is the social support our team gives children and their parents to navigate their way through an educational journey that may be totally foreign.

We are proud of our high year-to-year retention rate and that each year over 15 students qualify and take on professional lives.

THE POLYOAK FOUNDATION – FULFILLING DREAMS

GRADUATION RATE93%

Learn more about our initiatives to promote broad-based black economic empowerment - in accordance with the BBBEE Act - through education on www.polyoak.co.za

10% OF EQUITY COMMITTED TO BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION

Tyrone Maarman MUSICIAN

Kerwin Kingman PLUMBER Rizaan Van Graan

BEAUTY THERAPIST

Keelan Palmer SPORTS FITNESS

Queston Arries HAIRDRESSER

Sinenhlanhla Dlamini HUMANRESOURCES

Mazombe Mshayisa NURSE Phelokazi Stone

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Brandon Otto FITTER

Firdous Plato TEACHER

Bianca Abrahamse TEACHER Ramano Thilakalal

ACCOUNTANT

Samantha Adams DENTAL TECHNOLOGY Mpho Mehlomakulu

COMMERCIALLAWYER

Kayla Voskuil TEACHER

KICKSTART WORKSHOPS

Popular with learners, our various Kickstart Workshops

have been developed to have immediate impact on matric

mathematics, Colour Accounting and preparedness for the

world of work.

O V E R

50% FEMALE STUDENTS

GRADUATES SINCE 2009

MORE THAN

of our alumni are employed and economically active

total students at our Kickstart Workshops

w

The wonderful thing about the 10% equity-into-education system is that our customers also get to help young South Africans to a better education by doing business with Polyoak.

We tend to focus on the financial relief and improved quality of life a graduate brings to their immediate family, and overlook the window of hope and possibility that they bring to the youth within their broader community.

At the Polyoak Family and Teachers Plus Foundations we strive to connect and empower communities through our programmes and the vision to build a great future for generations to come.

We are happy to take the average academic child, who is often overlooked, and give them a chance. Once we’ve found the right course for them, we don’t simply offer funding. We also connect our kids. We connect them with each other, other parents and with business. In so doing we really help them on the journey to graduation and the world of work.

At Teachers Plus, we are doing our part to address the crisis in South African education and the severe shortage of emerging quality mathematics teachers. Through our intensive programme we are empowering previously disadvantaged students to become expert, professional and passionate mathematics teachers, who will be able to hold their own at the best schools in the country and make a real difference in the future.

We ensure that our teachers undo the myth that accounting is boring. We focus on taking work that is covered in the curriculum and relate it to practical every day experiences. Many learners are taught accounting where there is no understanding and very often just learn concepts or rules off by heart. Our teachers know the “why” and teach with proper understanding.

I love watching our students grow into confident and passionate mathematics teachers as they progress through the Teachers Plus programme. The unique interface between theory and practice gives our students a strong foundation.

It is a beautiful thing seeing the face of a learner light up when suddenly they discover a course that speaks to what they have been dreaming about for their future or a parent who rushes in to tell us their child passed their exams. These small moments make what we do even more powerful.

Many of our students, who have come from high need communities, thrive when given the opportunity to focus on their own personal growth in a safe and supportive environment. Our professional programme develops essential practical and academic skills but also ensures that our students graduate as well-rounded, confident teachers who are highly sought after.

We are adding value to people’s lives. We are improving teaching in South Africa and also empowering children of our Polyoak community to be skilled and active citizens. Together we can change the world!

Teachers Plus brings excitement, passion and a sense of possibility to the teaching of mathematics and accounting in South Africa. We empower and produce great teachers who understand the content of the work that they are teaching and have passion and the expertise for sharing this.

Polyoak Foundation: IT1756/2009 Teachers Plus: NPC 2018/087198/08 PBO 930064709

POLYOAK DIVISIONS

Our trustees and specialists bring expertise and passion to education. . .

Wayne LateganProduction Planning Manager Polyoak Packaging

Ernest MoorePrincipal Liaison, Partners for Possibility

Diane DonaldsonMathematics Specialist

Fatima JakoetPilot, South African Airways

Founder Sakhikamva Foundation

Suzanne DingleyDirector, Polyoak Packaging

Cindy QekelesheStudent Co-ordinator and Administrator

Brenda Elshove Manager, Teachers Plus

Julie MichaelLife Coach

Colleen HodgeAccounting Specialist

Gavin Larsen Mathematics Specialist

Nicole Sudding Manager, Polyoak Foundation