Every year, 100 of the most successful students receive USD 700 each

So far, 200 excellent students from 11 high schools have received the Zijin scholarship, and in the academic year that has just started, another 100 students will receive it.  – The scholarship means a lot! It boosted my confidence, helping me navigate the adult world more easily, and additionally motivated me to develop good work habits, says Teodor Barbulović. -Zhang Yicheng added – Last year, we implemented 18 donor projects worth 12.66 million dinars, and this year we will allocate over 20 million dinars for improving the quality of education in the Bor District

SZC. – Dijana Ikanović and Teodor Barbulović received a one-time scholarship in the amount of USD 700 from Serbia Zijin Copper last year. The two of them, as well as 98 other high school students from Bor, Majdanpek, Negotin and Kladovo, were selected as the best students of the final grades of secondary vocational schools and gymnasiums in the Bor District, with whom the Company signed a Contract on scholarship for the best students in the school year 2023/2024. After finishing high school, Dijana and Teodor are attending professional practice at the Serbia Zijin Copper plants.

– I graduated from the High School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Bor and since July of this year, as a mechanical technician for computer engineering, I have been doing professional practice in “Veliki Krivelj”. I belonged to the sector of the Technical preparation of electromechanical maintenance in this mine and I am very satisfied with my workplace. The work is interesting, I have a mentor, and there are other colleagues from whom I learn. Let’s say, one of my tasks is to record the availability of machinery in the mine, something like a daily report on the correctness of the mining machines – says Dijana.

This nineteen-year-old girl says that the scholarship made her very happy because it was a sign that her hard work at school was noticed and – paid off. – To tell you the truth, the scholarship “lifted my spirit” and encouraged me to study and work on myself. The internship lasts until July next year, and I would like to get a job in a Chinese company. I like my workplace, my colleagues are great, and the salary is also excellent – points out Dijana.

Her colleague Teodor Barbulović, who is a year younger, is doing his professional practice at the Smelter in Bor. He is proud to be a Serbia Zijin Copper scholarship holder and hopes that after the professional internship he will establish a working relationship in the Company. – The scholarship means a lot! The scholarship means a lot! It boosted my confidence, helping me navigate the adult world more easily, and additionally motivated me to develop good work habits. I’m now looking forward to employment, that’s the next step. The salaries are excellent and I would like to stay here – says Teodor, who received education as a motor vehicle driver at the High School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Bor.

So far, 200 excellent students from 11 high schools have received the Zijin scholarship, and in the academic year that has just started, another 100 students will receive it, which was agreed (on 23 September) at a meeting with the directors of educational institutions, that was also attended by the Head of Administrative District of Bor, Vladimir Stanković.

For three years now, Serbia Zijin Copper has been implementing a scholarship program for students in the final grades of secondary vocational schools and gymnasiums in the Bor District. With the representatives of 11 high schools today, it was agreed to implement the Contract on scholarship for the best students in the school year 2024/2025, so this year the 100 most successful high school students from Bor, Majdanpek, Negotin and Kladovo will receive a one-time scholarship in the amount of USD 700.

– Education has a strategic importance for the economic and social development of the country and the nation, so Serbia Zijin Copper pays great attention to this segment of the educational process. In 14 schools, the Company contributed to better and more meaningful teaching by implementing numerous projects, starting from equipping computer classrooms, through the purchase of multifunctional computer equipment and renovation of educational facilities, to the financing of various school activities. Last year, we implemented 18 donor projects worth 12.66 million dinars, and we will allocate more than 20 million dinars to improve the quality of education in the Bor District – said the General Manager for Social Responsibility in Serbia Zijin Copper Zhang Yicheng.

The plan for the awarding of “Zijin” scholarships, which the parent Chinese company has been implementing since 2022 as part of the project of financial aid to education, foresees that by 2029, 100 scholarships will be awarded to excellent students of gymnasiums and secondary vocational schools in the Bor District every year. It was defined, with the same plan, that 50 students from Bor, 20 from Majdanpek, 20 from Negotin, and 10 from Kladovo will receive a one-time scholarship in the amount of USD 700. The entire project is worth USD 560,000.

– Serbia Zijin Copper has so far realized 254 donations and allocated 6.75 million US dollars for the improvement of health care, transport infrastructure, education, sports, traditional arts, and entertainment for children. Only in education, through the realization of 50 donations, 1.42 million dollars were invested – Yicheng said.

The General Manager for Social Responsibility in Serbia Zijin Copper, reminded us that the Company has started the implementation of the “Zijin Talents” program, which is largely aimed at supporting professional training.