“inspiring, educating and sparking the interest of the science and … · 2018-04-26 ·...

“Inspiring, educating and sparking the interest of the science and mathematics leaders of tomorrow”


Jolene van Heerden is a public relations professional with over 22 years of experience. Currently,

she is Communications Manager for MAHLE, an automotive component manufacturer located in

Durban. She has led and challenged the automotive industry to take ownership in assisting and

addressing the ongoing shortage of skilled engineers and artisans.

Jolene is the driving force behind a highly successful sustainable CSI project (Science2Go) with

NGO, CASME, that is helping to reduce the knowledge gap that exists within these critical focus

areas, by providing science education in the under-resourced areas of mathematics and science at

31 schools and over 20 000 learners in the rural areas of Durban. In addition, robust educator

empowerment assists teachers in the understanding and delivery of their subject matter in a way

that is sustainable.

According to her colleagues and suppliers Jolene possesses outstanding communication skills,

superior presentation abilities, a passion for excellence, and a contagious enthusiasm. Tenacious

and resourceful; and demonstrates good research and information gathering skills.

Implementing and project managing a Guinness World Record attempt for the “Largest Practical

Science Lesson” for over 2102 learners with a non-existent budget demonstrates her ability to

convince and collaborate with media partners, Government and corporates.

Jolene is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer on public relations topics at the Durban University

of Technology (DUT).

She serves as the current Chairperson of KZN PRISA.


Measurable Achievements

Recipient of the 2016 Silver PRISM award for the “Best Community Project”

A total of 259 practical science lessons have been presented in 31 schools involving just

under 20 000 learners.

163 Durban Science teachers were trained and empowered through 18 training workshops

Learner enrolment (Durban) in Grade 10 Physical Sciences in schools has improved by

43%.

62% of learners are convinced that mathematics and science are cool subjects to study

Employee engagement at MAHLE has improved by 74%

Chevron South Africa has signed up for a second Science2Go vehicle to operate in the

Umlazi area in Durban.

Recognition for “Science2Go” amongst other corporate, university and government partners

was leveraged to kick-start new initiatives including the Young Scientist Incubator Project

clubs with participating learners now entering the Expo for Young Scientists and the

establishment of the Umjikilezo We-Science Road show.

Publicity for MAHLE and CASME has achieved an AVE value (1:1) of over 5 million.

Conclusion

The sustainable “Science2Go” initiative is leading the way in changing current negative perceptions about maths and science amongst the Kwa-Zulu Natal youth. Therefore proving that investment in sustainable education can deliver tangible results. Jolene is a leader in developing campaigns and strategies that require a change in attitude and behaviour toward difficult business topics. “Jolene’s creativity, insights, pragmatism and ability to conceive and implement WOW/win/win solutions for all stakeholders involved deserves to be acknowledged and applauded”, said Theresa Brown, East Coast Radio Account Manager.


1 February 2018 Dear Sir Re Jolene van Heerden: 2018 PRISM Awards: Best PR Professional Category

I hereby submit for consideration by the PRISM adjudication committee my motivation for the award in the above category to our company’s Communications Manager, Mrs. Jolene van Heerden. Jolene has demonstrated over a number of years tireless enthusiasm in advancing the image of an engineering and manufacturing organization that does not necessarily lends itself easily to promotion compared to more glamorous organizations such as found in the beverage and retail sector covering fashion, cosmetics and the like. In order to improve the company’s image in the community and the automotive components industry has required of Jolene a large degree of tenacity, innovation and lateral thinking particularly given a dearth of such attributes in a largely male dominated, cost conscious, engineering enterprise being MAHLE Behr South Africa (MBZA). As is often the case, an extremely limiting budget will in most cases “kill-off” the motivation in meeting a challenge. Jolene is however not easily thwarted and can be counted upon to always rise to a challenge. As examples:

Science2Go Jolene is the originator of “Science2Go” a highly successful corporate social responsibility programme that focuses on providing science and maths education to 31 under privileged schools in Durban. Not only has this programme improved the maths and science results amongst learners but internally has improved the employee morale at MAHLE. 70% of our employees children benefit from the “Science2Go” programme.

Guiness World Record – Largest Practical Science Lesson She initiated the idea with the purpose to make science and maths fun. Jolene has been instrumental in getting MBZA and its employees, its suppliers and service providers, the Ethekwini Municipality and the University of Kwazulu-Natal to give of their time and resources to sponsor this event which took place in February 2016.

The above examples demonstrate Jolene’s commitment to her passion of public relations and have greatly assisted MBZA in improving the greater community, customers and suppliers perception of the company as a socially responsible corporate citizen. MBZA has enjoyed significant benefit from being, outside of the automotive industry, a largely unknown entity to one which increasingly is recognized in the community as a valuable and caring organization that displays the “human touch”.

Yours sincerely GE Jarvis Financial Executive MAHLE Behr South Africa Pty


C E N T R E F O R T H E A D V A N C E M E N T O F S C I E N C E A N D M A T H E M A T I C S E D U C A T I O N

PO Box 10607, Ashwood, 3605

23 Caversham Road, Ashley, Pinetown, 3610 Tel 031 826 2508 Fax 086 509 2827

[email protected] www.casme.org.za

twitter.com/CASMEZA facebook.com/CASMEZA

February 2018

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: JOLENE VAN HEERDEN

The Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CASME) is a non-profit organisation that works to support rural and under-resourced urban schools to improve the quality of teaching and learning. CASME’s work is focused on provision of tuition for high school learners, teacher training and science equipment resourcing. It does this largely through funding partnerships with business and government in South Africa. CASME has had a working association with Jolene Van Heerden in her capacity as Communications Manager at MAHLE Behr SA since 2012. In my capacity as Operations Officer, I have been the main point of contact with CASME. Jolene has been the driving force behind MAHLE Behr SA’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme. CASME has been identified by MAHLE Behr SA as its flagship social investment programme having grown from a single, learner-focused initiative to a multifaceted programme that tackles the challenges of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Education from a number of strategic directions. The CASME/MAHLE Behr SA partnership now includes a teacher training component, a mobile science resource centre outreach programme, bursaries for top achieving students and in 2016 reached its pinnacle with the staging of the World’s Largest Practical Science Lesson.


In our early interactions Jolene stood out as an exceptional community builder. For example she insisted that CASME involve their Port Elizabeth plant’s management in the selection of the beneficiary school. Over the course of our interactions she has continued to exemplify this through her consultative and inclusive approach. The scaling up of MAHLE Behr SA’s support for CASME over a period of 4 years was linked to a considered and regular review of measurable outcomes. Jolene has worked closely with CASME to ensure that the project reporting reflected the needs of key decision makers at MAHLE Behr SA and in so doing helped facilitate internal understanding of the projects successes and challenges. She facilitated opportunities for CASME to present project goals and achievements to management at the highest level and in so doing build relationships that moved beyond cold, detached reports. As part of a global group, Jolene has also created opportunities to extent the visibility of the initiative beyond the borders of South Africa through exposure to international visitors in person and also through global MAHLE publications. Jolene has always acknowledged CASME’s expertise in the delivery of the education projects supported by MAHLE Behr SA. She has listened to our advice and sought ways to extend the company’s involvement to ensure that sound educational practices were not secondary to its marketing or public relations objectives, but rather that both were achieved. The introduction of Teacher Training and Student Bursaries to beneficiaries emerged from our recommendations. It is important to note that the CASME brand has always shared equal billing with MAHLE Behr SA, which was a deliberate result of Jolene approach to CSI within the company. Jolene seems able to achieve far more than should be possible, considering she runs the communications office of MAHLE Behr SA single-handedly. This is because she is meticulous in the planning and execution of projects. On the Internal Communications front, Jolene has used every available opportunity to promote the partnership with CASME and its impact to members of the MAHLE Behr SA staff. This has included regular features in the MAHLE Behr SA newsletter, production of annual calendars and setting up opportunities for engaging with beneficiaries through the annual Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day. A singular testament to her success on this front is the unequivocal support she received from all levels of company when we embarked on the Guinness World Record for the Largest Practical Science Lesson. This was a unique undertaking that would have been impossible without broad MAHLE Behr SA staff buy-in, since it relied on extensive staff volunteerism and involved staff in activities that could only have impacted on their day-to-day work.


The launch of the Science2Go mobile science resource centre initiative in 2015 was for CASME an undertaking which would have been overwhelming without Jolene’s support. Her approach was to allow CASME to focus on our area of expertise (resources for science teaching and learning). The branding and other elements came together under her expert hand. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience to work with Jolene. She possesses a far reaching vision for the MAHLE Behr SA and CASME partnership and it has been inspiring to see her systematically build that partnership one strategic piece at a time. Should you wish to discuss this recommendation further it would be my pleasure to do so. Yours sincerely Henre Benson

____________________ Henre Benson Chief Operations Officer

“inspiring, educating and sparking the interest of the science and … · 2018-04-26 ·...

Documents