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STEP News
| 27.04.2012: A Date with Freedom |
STEP 2012 participant Lerato Shai was invited to the Freedom Day celebrations at the South African Embassy on the 27th April . Who did she meet? Find out more here!
Lerato's visit to the Embassy >>
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| 13.04.2012: STEPpers visit Tübingen - looking back and looking forward |
One of the highlights of the annual STEP Programme for its participants is the visit to the University of Tübingen. This year it was no different! STEP 2012 interns Simone Samuels, Justine Schoonraad and Jason du Plessis write about their impressions on the two days of workshops....
Read more here >>
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| 30.03.2012: Daimler Trainees meet STEP interns |
On 30th March 2012 the eight STEP interns based in Stuttgart met up with four trainees completing vocational training with Daimler AG as Industrial Management Assistants with an Additional Qualification of International Economic Management and Foreign Languages.
The aim of the meeting was to exchange information on the cultures and education/training systems in Germany, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
For STEP intern Fabio Silva from Mozambique, currently working in Mercedes-Benz car development, it was a very interesting afternoon: "I think it was a very informative session where we got to see a different route of obtaining a meaningful qualification through vocation training without going through the usual route of university and then looking for a job. And for our German counterparts, we showed them some of the difficulties encountered in education in our countries".
Jason du Plessis added: "The meeting with the Daimler Azubis and STEPpers provided the opportunity for all participants to get a first hand insight and understanding of the various education systems in Germany and in the Southern Africa Developing Community (SADC). Although the SADC's education system has substantial benefits, there still remain opportunities for development and growth. Lack of infrastructure and resources are core challanges facing these countries.The SADC could surely learn from the German system of vocational training".
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| 20.03.2012: STEP 2012 Welcome Brochure |
Download the STEP Welcome Brochure, for more information on the 2012 STEP participants and the internship positions that they have taken up.
STEP 2012 Welcome Brochure >>
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| 27.02.2012: The Countdown |
Four more days till 14 STEP 2012 participants arrive in Stuttgart!
Only three more days till they close their suitcases and are on their way to Germany!
What do they expect to encounter in Germany – thousands of kilometres away from home? What are they most looking forward to during this period of opportunities and possibilities? How would they best describe their fears and inhibitions as they set out on a journey of professional and personal discovery and adventure?
Click here to read what two of the 2012 STEPpers have to say >>
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| 09.02.2012: A STEP Towards Your Future Career |
SAFRI, the Southern African Initiative of German Business, offers six-month internships at Daimler AG in partnership with Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) and other companies in Germany. Since 2005, more than 60 participants from Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nami- bia, Zimbabwe and South Africa have successfully completed the Students Experience Programme (STEP).
Click on the link below to read how STEP better prepares young graduates from the SADC region for future career challenges.
A STEP Towards Your Future Career >>
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| 15.01.2012: 2012 In Preparation: The 10th STEP Group |
With enthusiasm and anticipation SAFRI is pleased to announce that the 10th Students Experience Programme (STEP) will be taking place in Germany from March - August 2012.
Professional skills are to be gained, cross-cultural and language barriers to be tested and overcome and lasting networks to be established. A most rewarding experience on all levels – professional and personal – awaits the 14 STEP 2012 participants!
During October 2011 Mrs Joanne Dittrich, STEP Project Manager, assisted by Mercedes Benz South Africa undertook interviews with 70 preselected ... (click below to continue reading)
2012 In Preparation: The 10th STEP Group >>
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| 15.09.2011: STEP 2011 Yearbook |
Download the STEP 2011 Yearbook here and find out more about STEP and the experiences of the nine participants in Germany.
STEP 2011 Yearbook >>
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| 30.06.2011: STEP interns visit the German capital |
As in the previous year, the STEP 2011 participants were given the opportunity to visit Berlin. On the agenda of the 4-day study trip were visits to Daimler AG where intern Mabocha Mokobane is working, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the Bundestag and a fascinating guided tour of the district of Kreuzberg.
Johannes Kapiye describes his impressions of the first day in Berlin >>
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| 22.06.2011: STEP interns learning German |
An extremely important part of the Students Experience Programme is learning the German language. In her report, STEP intern Zimasa Dinabantu from South Africa describes the German lessons with teacher Stefanie Kühnert in Stuttgart.
Zimasa's report >>
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| 09.06.2011: STEP interns visit Lake Constance |
The STEP interns in Stuttgart made the most of the long holiday weekend in Germany and travelled 170km southwards to Lake Constance. STEP participant Stéphanie Andriamanjato from Madagascar describes the trip below.
Stéphanie's report >>
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| 08.06.2011: STEP interns visit the University of Tübingen |
The visit to the University of Tübingen for workshops on intercultural communication, German politics, history, economics and geography is always one of the highlights of the STEP programme. This year's visit on 27th and 28th May was no exception. Here are the reports by Zimasa Dinabantu and Morty M. Selelo.
Report by Zimasa Dinabantu >>
Report by Morty M. Selelo >>
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| 07.06.2011: STEP interns visit the "Sonnenzentrum" - solar energy centre |
On Thursday 28th May, the STEPpers made a trip to the Sonnenzentrum in Rottenburg-Oberndorf, a small town about an hours drive south-west of Stuttgart, making a short stop at the Ritter Sport chocolate factory on the way.
The Sonnenzentrum is a factory (Hartmann Energietechnik GmbH), restaurant and showcase for alternative energy sources developed by Mr Thomas Hartmann, and celebrated its 10th anniversary in April of 2011. The centre is powered completely by renewable energy, in summer 80% of all heating and electrical requirements are met by solar panels on the roof and by a large 150m2 solar collector, while the remaining 20% is catered for by biomass burners.
Upon arriving at the centre, we were all given the opportunity to test ride electrically assisted bicycles and take a ride in a small 2 seater electric car capable of reaching speeds of 90km/h which only uses the equivalent of 0.8 l of fuel per100km, not bad considering the price of fuel today!
Mr Hartmann then explained some of the details of the house to us, showing us the large solar collector for heating water, the solar panels on the roof and giving us a tour of the workshop where the solar collectors are assembled. This was followed by a delicious meal at the “Sonne die feurige gastronomie” restaurant, cooked completely, of course, with renewable energy.
In the afternoon, Mr Hartmann took us on a tour of the village of Oberndorf, showing us the various means of making ones home more “green” and showing us some of the work that his company has done in the area.
It was a very interesting and eye-opening day for us all, and was a clear demonstration of how effective alternative, environmentally friendly, means of energy provision can be.
The Twike electric vehicle >>
Testing the electric bikes >>
Managing Director Mr Hartmann explains the advantages of solar power >>
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| 05.06.2011: STEP interns visit the Africa Festival in Würzburg |
During the long holiday weekend at the beginning of June 2011, the STEP interns travelled to the Africa Festival in Würzburg. Morty Selelo reports on their trip.
Morty's report >>
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