2019 Integrated Report

CONTEXT The ethos of mutuality informs everything the PPS Group does, and this philosophy enables it to support the growth of the professional pipeline beyond financial services. With this in mind, the PPS Foundation continues to implement development initiatives that are aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:   Goal 1: – No poverty   Goal 2: – Zero hunger   Goal 4: – Quality education   Goal 8: – Decent work and economic growth SUPPORTING ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION A key PPS objective is to make a positive contribution to education, specifically tertiary education. Through its bursary programme the PPS Foundation therefore continues to improve access to quality education. The programme provides comprehensive funding towards tuition, text books and accommodation for students studying towards professional degrees with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The University Support Programme is a further initiative that supports activities aimed at enhancing the teaching and learning experience at academic institutions. The programme focuses on providing access to resources that will positively impact students’ academic journeys, including psychosocial needs, as well as improving facilities that educators can use to deliver a world-class education. Sadly, one of the challenges faced by students is food insecurity, with hunger and malnutrition contributing significantly to poor health, poor academic scores and a higher-than-average drop-out rate. Since 2018, the PPS Foundation has partnered with Rise Against Hunger to help address this issue, and has sponsored over 100 000 meal packs for distribution to students at public universities. These were packed PPS DOING GOOD 16 16 | PPS INTEGRATED REPORT 2019