Telkom Foundation: Transforming communities through youth education and skills development

Bongani Bingwa interviews Serame Taukobong, CEO of Telkom Group.

Listen below.

The Telkom Foundation, established in 1998, is dedicated to uplifting communities by investing in youth education and skills development.

Telkom collaborates with government entities such as the Department of Labour and Basic Education, as well as the private sector and civil society organisations like Childline and Lifeline, to support sustainable development initiatives.

The primary objective of the Telkom Foundation is to transform disadvantaged communities through sustainable development programmes.

"Telkom Foundation is something that is a strong pillar of Telkom."

- Serame Taukobong, CEO – Telkom Group

By working with the government, the private sector, and educational institutions, the Foundation aims to improve the quality of education in Science, Technology, English, and Math.

Their three-phase strategy includes:

• High School: Supplementary Math, Science, and English education, along with psychosocial support.
• Post-Schooling: Comprehensive post-school learner support, workplace exposure, and guidance for navigating post-school pathways.
• Placements: Facilitating placements through learnerships, internships, and enterprise development.

With 487 learners to date, Telkom Learn offers a comprehensive 12-month programme, which includes four months of intensive theoretical training followed by eight months of hands-on experiential learning, and provides free access to basic education assistance featuring daily interactive live classes led by dedicated tutors and gamified courses for engaging and effective revision.

"Telkomlearn.co.za is a very exciting platform for us, that offers these wonderful services."

- Serame Taukobong, CEO – Telkom Group

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.