Education

SouthLabs

In May 2024, we partnered with the regional education authorities in Tunisia and ETAP to support the SouthLabs robotics project in schools. 10 primary schools, 19 middle schools and 12 high schools participated with the support of 82 teachers. Together with our partner ETAP, we provided Arduino materials and laptops to facilitate the creation of 41 clubs among all high schools and middle schools and 10 primary schools in the region. We were able to involve 410 students of different ages, mobilize 82 teachers to cover the clubs' activities throughout the 2023/2024 school year, and conduct a total of about 25 sessions per club (1025 total per project). Since the beginning of the project, a project committee of educational authorities has been formed to accompany the teachers and students.

Science Resource Kits for Primary Schools

We support House of Science in their mission to ensure that every child in New Zealand becomes scientifically literate. Their science kits help students build a clear understanding of key concepts and processes they encounter in everyday life, fostering improved scientific literacy, which provides broader social and economic benefits for the country.

Max and Lara

Since 2018, we have supported the Max & Lara project, which organizes cultural and leisure activities for underprivileged children in Austria. These experiences allow children to grow, broaden their horizons, and strengthen their general education and personal development.

This project is one of the ways that we help to give young people access to art and culture. In 2023, over 100 children and their parents attended events organized by our sponsorship partners, offering them opportunities not only to learn but also to engage with cultural life.

Lebenshilfe Matzen

Since 2004, we have partnered with Lebenshilfe Niederösterreich to support a workshop in Matzen, Lower Austria, that aims to promote social inclusion in local communities. The workshop provides work opportunities for around 52 people, helping them develop their abilities regardless of the level of support they need.

Participants engage in a variety of activities, including maintaining our green spaces and creating handmade goods like candles, ceramics, soaps, jewelry, and wood products.

Tasharok: Empowering Communities in Tunisia

Through our Tasharok project in Gabès, Tunisia, we aimed to bring positive change to the nearby communities of Basboussa and Bouchemma, located near the Nawara Gas Treatment Plant.

The project focused on three key areas:

• Improving waste management through collaborating with the local municipality and providing equipment and materials.
• Promoting economic growth through support for a micro-grant program, enabling community members to start small businesses and improve their financial situation.
  
• Supporting community building by establishing a local group to represent the neighborhood and address community issues.

Start in Education

In Romania, early education participation rates have declined in recent years and are among the lowest in Europe. Through the OMV Petrom Foundation, we support the Start in Education project, which aims to improve the school readiness of 60,000 preschool children from underprivileged, mostly rural, communities. The project provides educational resources for early learning at home, and has successfully increased kindergarten enrolment.

During the 2023–2024 school year, the initiative provided ‘ABC Kindergarten’ kits to 1,500 kindergartens and trained 3,500 educators in interactive education and parenting techniques. An additional 60,000 preschool children and 10,000 parents benefited from educational resources and parenting workshops.

The Petrochemical School

We support the Petrochemical School in Romania, a dual education program that combines classroom learning with practical training in the petrochemical field. In 2023, we contributed around EUR 300,000 to fund the program, which provides students with both professional training and internships at the Petrobrazi refinery. In 2023, 75 students graduated from the course. A further 100 students are currently enrolled, each receiving scholarships of up to EUR 130 during their studies.

Upon completing the three-year program, students earn a recognized qualification as petrochemical operators, and have the opportunity to pursue job opportunities within our company.

CODY21: Digital Education Program in Austria

We provide support for CODY21, a digital education program for elementary schools in Austria. Together with A1 digital campus, we fund the platform, giving 3,200 students in our partner communities access to interactive video lessons that teach basic digital skills. In 2023, we also donated 400 laptops to schools, providing students and teachers with greater access to digital learning opportunities.