The RR Foundation and the Confucius Institute at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) formalised their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 5 October 2022.
The Confucius Institute (CI) is located at the DUT ML Sultan campus and comprises a Chinese Culture Experience Centre, a Library and a dedicated Chinese language lab.
The signing ceremony was attended by Mrs Esay Reddy, Executive Chairperson for the RR Group of Companies; Venisha Reddy Sabapathy, Group Treasury; Kerushin Reddy, Director KZN Oils Transport and Kreeshan Reddy, Director Ko-Lay. Also in attendance from the RR Foundation was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nadim Aziz, Yashna Sookoo, Funding; Buhle Yaka, Admin.
In accordance with the principles of mutual benefits and cooperation, both have parties agreed to facilitate closer collaboration in organising workshops on health and wellness, Chinese and vocational skill training programme and co-organising cultural functions and activities.
“Promoting the mutual understanding between China and South Africa and providing service in the local communities based on their desire is one of CI’s key functions at DUT, which is also aligned to DUT’s ENVISION2030. We are excited to work with RR Foundation and to implement this university -enterprise cooperation,” said Frank Lin Wu, Co-Director of the Confucius Institute at DUT.
“We are truly honoured to institutionalise our relationship between our respective organisations, and we look forward to working closely with CI under our aspects of education, physical health and mental health to the benefit of children, youth and elders of South Africa and the world. Furthermore, we are encouraged through our relationship, to promote mutual understanding between China and South Africa based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence,” said Mr Aziz.
As a consequence of the partnership and in order to promote staff health and wellness, the RR Foundation have begun with Tai Chi, Qigong and Chinese traditional medicine classes within the RR Group of companies amongst all staff.
The classes will take place at the RR Group’s facilities in Durban before classes are opened up to the youth from the wider communities. The programme focuses on and incorporates preventative health strategies.
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