The SA Navy Youth Orchestra conjured up a storm of music at the recent Knysna Oyster Festival. And it’s all thanks to sponsorship by MSC as part of its Izivungu MSC Foundation for Youth. The band is just one of the subprojects on the foundation’s now rather lengthy list of educationally supportive programmes for previously disadvantaged youth, according to foundation director Mathew Mentz. “These include a crèche, extra school maths lessons and computer literacy – with Izivungu now having branched out round the needs of the maritime industry,” he told FTW. Part of this is teaching poor kids how to sail bigger, keeled yachts, and ultimately achieving a skipper’s ticket. “A couple have also been awarded national colours for sailing and have taken part in international competition,” Mentz added.
