Chippenham, UK, 2018-May-02
Jinit Shah and Cosmin Butanescu, both based at Siemens’ Ashby-de-la-Zouch office, recently travelled to Mozambique to upgrade the company’s fastflex remote terminal units and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which are at the heart of the pipeline control system.
During the course of their visit, Jinit and Cosmin visited two orphanages in Beira, where young children are given valuable support as well as the opportunity to receive an education in their community. Having raised money from friends and colleagues before the visit, including a £300 personal donation from Jinit himself, as well as receiving funds and support from Siemens RA CIS, the engineers presented the orphanage with stationery, sports equipment, baby powder, nappies and a range of foods.
After the visit, Jinit said: “It was incredibly moving to see the children’s faces light up when we were handing over the stationary sets, footballs and snacks. The visit certainly brought home to us the realities of poverty and made us really appreciate the everyday things that we so often take for granted.”
On the next leg of their journey, the two engineers visited a school in Maforga which is attended by over 400 children. Cosmin said: “We received a fantastic welcome wherever we went, with the school children excited to see us and eager to learn from our experiences. It was great to provide them with stationery and equipment, which will make a real difference to their school day.”
The final leg of their visit took them to Feruka in Zimbabwe, where Jinit and Cosmin visited a local school as well as the Child Protection Agency. Having spent time with the children, they again handed over books, pencils, rulers and rubbers as well as footballs and tennis balls, before travelling on to the Child Protection Agency. There they learned more about the agency’s work with homeless and orphaned children and how they educate, feed and provide skills to young people. Siemens’ fundraisers helped to donate 250kg of maize flour to the agency, enough to provide one meal for around 1,000 children.
Speaking about the project, Siemens General Manager for Communications and Information Systems, Colin Rowcliffe, said: “We are incredibly proud of the work that Jinit and Cosmin have done to support children in two of Africa’s poorest countries.
As a business, we regularly work with our local communities, but equally we recognise how important it is to provide support further afield when we are able. I know how rewarding and inspiring both Jinit and Cosmin found the whole experience and am delighted that we were able to support their efforts.”
Siemens Rail Automation is a global leader in the design, supply, installation and commissioning of track-side and train-borne signalling and train control solutions. Its portfolio includes train control, interlocking systems, operations control systems, components, track vacancy detection, level-crossing protection, rail communications, cab radios, station systems and cargo automation for both passenger and freight rail operators.
Siemens employs over 15,000 people in the UK, with 1,650 people working in the Rail Automation division from offices in Chippenham, London, Croydon, Poole, Birmingham, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Manchester, York, Glasgow, Newport and Derby. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk/rail.
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