by Hugh C.n. Miller | Jul 2, 2021 | Old News
Girls in ICT
An Interview with Fanisa Mkansi
Usually, when we hear or speak about new technology, we automatically assume that there must be a man behind the innovation.
However, women have played a vital role in the development of technology and ICT. From Ada Lovelace, the “First Programmer” who foresaw the rise of the computer almost two hundred years ago; to Margaret Hamilton whose code let a man land on the moon for the first time.
In this article, we spoke to Fanisa Mkansi about her journey becoming an IT facilitator and her advice for other women interested in carrying on this proud legacy.
How did your teaching career start?
“It started when I was in grade 10, we used to do Mathematics, so after school, I used to sit down with the other students and then assist them with Mathematics. Sometimes they would come to my place at home for assistance.
Another thing that pushed me towards teaching/facilitating is that my sister’s mom is a teacher. She was teaching Mathematics at her school, so she used to take me with her most of the time on Saturdays and Sundays as she used to conduct classes for learners who are behind, so I also used to assist her with those learners.”
How did you come about being an IT Facilitator?
“It started when I was in college, but my aim was not to become a facilitator; I was just volunteering to assist students in college with IT, especially new students.
I used to facilitate them, basically guiding them on how the IT industry works and how to use computers, so that’s how I started loving being an IT Facilitator.
That experience helped me to see that being an IT facilitator could be my dream job one day.”
So when you got an opportunity to be an IT facilitator at ORT, how did you feel?
“Wow, I was so happy because I can say it was my first professional job that I got so it made me realize that this is the opportunity for me to grow and to learn more because ORT gave me a chance to do something that I’ve been doing for the past few years, so it was a dream come true.”
What would you say to other women considering a career in IT?
“I will say to all the ladies out there when it comes to the subject of IT; I know that most of you run away and say it’s difficult.
But what I have learned is that everything is difficult when you look at it from afar but try to understand it; by doing that, you get to see and know that IT is not that difficult as people say it is.
As long as you focus and tell yourself that you want to achieve that goal, you will achieve it.”
Thank you to Fanisa for sharing her experiences with us, and we wish her all the best in her career.
If you’d like to help more women like her fulfil their dreams of working in the ICT sector, partner with ORT SA or donate today and help us Educate for Life.
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Jun 28, 2021 | Old News
The Lauri Story
by Lauri Kruger
“The impact of working at ORT SA was something I never saw coming. It was when my career growth really took off.”
“The ORT SA house (offices) is full of history, culture and people working hard to make a difference. I was instantly part of this family culture which was where I started seeing the world differently.
Little did I know how much I was about to grow. Not only was it my first job, but it was a place where I was transformed into a person who got to know herself better. It was a place where I could grow professionally, learn and hone in on various skills set.
I gained admin and marketing experience in the ORT Jet department. I built relationships with the businesses and mentors on the programme. We hosted numerous training sessions in the evenings and webinars, which is where I was exposed to business topics. I loved hearing all the stories and seeing first-hand the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur.
I also worked in the Skills department on the YES programme. This was a work placement programme for unemployed youth. I visited the youth to assess their progress which gave me insight into a new field.
I have learnt so much in just three years from my colleagues who were like family and mentors to me. As well as the rewarding opportunity to be part of all the training, develop my skills, meet the mentors, facilitators, and all the influential people in between. What an experience to work in a family-like culture and at the same time learn from industry experts daily.
Lots of Inspiration and ideas brewed over the years. I decided to take the jump into the world of business. I am excited to use everything I have learnt to apply it to my own business and see what else I can do with it.
ORT SA thrives on educating others and gives them an opportunity to have the skill sets required to enter the world of work. After working at ORT, I realised how powerful education is. It’s always yours to keep, and it can never be taken away from you.
It was a work experience that I will always hold dear to me.
Thank you, ORT SA, for all the opportunities.”
Lauri Kruger
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Jun 25, 2021 | Old News
“Technology in Education
Project.”
By Milani Falitenjwa
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Malcolm Forbes once said, “The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
The quote mentioned above highlights a crucial fact: education is one of the most critical aspects of human life, and without it, we are not knowledgeable. Even though we are currently living under the harsh reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, the youth must continue to receive their education.
The big question arises: How will young individuals continue to be educated if lockdown regulations are still in place?
To answer this question, we look at an initiative that ORT SA, in partnership with STET, plan to implement for the South African youth, called Technology in Education.
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The Technology in Education project targets foundation and intermediate phase teachers from schools where STET has implemented the Math developmental workshops. The project will run for a year, and the minimum target is fifty female teachers.
The project focusses on putting an end to the challenges teachers face when educating students remotely during the lockdown. It also aims to explore how technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning onsite and offsite.
ORT SA kindly appeals to the public to support this great initiative as we firmly believe that this project will empower teachers, learners and parents on how they can effectively collaborate to achieve educational goals for the youth of South Africa.
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 22, 2021 | Old News
Nedbank and ORT SA “Make Things Happen” for Unemployed Youth Through Their YES Program
Actions speak louder than words.
A profound, if stern, proverb that tells us what someone does is always more telling about their character than what they say. The Nedbank YES Programme, in collaboration with ORT SA, strived to exemplify this mentality.
It was one of many YES (Youth Employment Services) programmes in the country aimed at providing employment opportunities for the country’s youth.
In this article, we will briefly cover how their plan turned promises into reality and ended up making things happen in the lives of many young people.
The Nedbank YES program started in May 2019 and ended in April 2020. Nedbank, in collaboration with ORT SA, had one goal for their programme: to provide employment opportunities for 400 young people. As with any big undertaking the programme faced many trials and tribulations, but overall it was a great success for both organisations.
What People Had to Say
Khabiso Matlanyane, a beneficiary of the programme who’s now a fulltime businessman, had this to say: “It was a great experience. All the organisations involved went far and beyond to meet our needs. The level of professionalism was way beyond my expectations.”
Khabiso also praised the various opportunities and skills the programme presented him with, saying: ”There are various skills that I’ve acquired through the program. First, I now know how to work and communicate with children. Second, I can diagnose technical issues in the workplace & lastly, I’ve developed an attitude of having a good work ethic in the workplace. Currently, I’m a self-employed general dealer. As an agency, we focus on distribution, tutoring and recruitment.”
Mphumeleli Ndlovu, another beneficiary turned businessman, had this to say after securing a job placement because of the program: “The overall experience was life-changing and impactful because the principals and teachers went out of their way to teach me as many lessons as possible. It has inspired me to invest in people from similar situations as a means to empower young people like myself and make meaningful changes to others around me!”
Mr Ndlovu went on to start his own business, called Allure Water Co, and he attributes his success to the skills and exposure he received from the programme.
Conclusion
It is becoming increasingly clear that to resolve South Africa’s persistent socio-economic problems, big businesses need to step up to the plate and do their part to create meaningful change.
As Martin Luther King Junior once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
The YES Programme was a great step towards empowering the country’s youth. It’s only through uplifting the lives of individuals that we can truly start making things happen.
By Milani Falitenjwa
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 22, 2021 | Old News
What’s in the Pipeline for ORT SA in 2021?
2021 is the year that ORT SA will aspire to continue bridging the digital and knowledge divide.
We won’t focus on going back to ‘normal’, as it was, because our mission has always been to revolutionise the workplace. We will continue to focus on reimagining and reshaping the future.
We do that through relevant and cutting edge training and mentoring of schools’ leadership, teachers and learners, post-school youth and business owners and professionals.
Education has been getting a lot of criticism for not fulfilling its purpose. Some people think that schools and universities are not preparing our children for the world of work and are “out of touch” with the real workplace and the skills and knowledge it requires.
Keeping Ahead of Trends
For education to fulfil its mission, ORT SA will be looking ahead at trends and respond to the skills and talent required. We aim to keep renovating our programmes and incorporate green economy, gaming as well as soft skills and mental coping tools. All along ensuring, we bridge gender inequality and the digital divide.
The global lockdown raised awareness towards the importance of a green economy and, as the public, governments and investors wake up to climate change, the clean – energy industry is gaining momentum.
As an overview of the new energy system emerges, we will examine the implications of education and skills development. Taking into consideration, professions related to renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.
Bridging Gender Inequality
Various research (such as by NICD) showed that women were disproportionally affected by the Covid19 crisis. They were more likely than men to lose their jobs, as well as taking a share of the additional child care as a result of school closure due to lockdown.
At ORT SA, we will continue to run Coding and other IT programmes promoting female participation and raising awareness of IT professions not “only as a profession for male”.
Gaming as an Employment Opportunity
The global pandemic has resulted in more people staying home, which was a great boon for the gaming industry. Some sources say the gaming industry has actually eclipsed the film industry as the most popular (and profitable) form of entertainment worldwide.
This means there will be more available jobs in this industry, however, research shows that for youth to get into these professions, intervention and education must be introduced from an early stage.
Upskilling youth from schooling level, one can ensure that these youth will have a high likelihood of being employable. Online gaming is not for entertainment only and can be used for educational purposes, gamification in the workplace and social change.
Conclusion
COVID-19 has been a trigger to transformation in different sectors and industries. The education and skills development sector need to have a discussion on how we adapt and transform the offering so as not to become redundant and affronted.
About ORT SA
ORT was started in 1936 purely as a fundraising entity. From 1936 to 1994 the organization existed to raise funds for various causes within World ORT. In 1994 with the change in government, ORT SA became an operational organization and began to implement various programmes within South Africa.
ORT SA is a multi-faceted, proactive and reputable organization. It thrives on developing teachers, youth, businesses and communities, by improving the standard of education, so that all can achieve a better life.
For ORT SA, education is more than basic schooling. It’s about empowerment and support. Only then can poverty be eradicated and meaningful lives built.
ORT SA is an educational and vocational NGO BBBEE Level 1 which provides state of the art training and mentoring in STEM, IT education and entrepreneurship.
For more details go to www.ortsa.org.za
ORT JET is a division of ORT SA and was established in 2005 to create an empowering support structure for small Jewish business owners and people with business ideas in South Africa. ORT JET aims to facilitate business growth and financial sustainability by offering mentoring, training and networking opportunities.
Please visit www.ortjet.org.za to view our upcoming training events.
