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.
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 22, 2021 | Old News
The Digital Workplace Readiness Program by Absa and ORT SA: Fighting Unemployment by Equipping the Youth With Relevant Skills
With the unemployment rate sitting at 30.8% in South Africa, the youth are facing more challenges in finding employment than ever before. This is due to the devastating effects that the coronavirus has had on the South African economy. ORT SA, in line with its mission of making people employable, ran the Digital Workplace Readiness Program sponsored by ABSA at the end of 2020. The program focussed on helping the youth acquire digital skills to enable them to find a job in an evolved digitized workplace.
In this article, we try and unravel the impact that this program has had on the youth.
The Digital Workplace Readiness Program
The Digital Workplace Readiness Program was a three-month program that started from September to November 2020. The program’s purpose was to remotely upskill and educate unemployed youth by using globally recognized educational platforms (such as Cisco, WHO and LinkedIn). Besides, ORT courses provided film making, graphic design and work readiness training. The program managed to recruit, a staggering number of 396 individuals in a short period. Despite the various challenges throughout the program, the students diligently completed their tasks.
What People Had to Say
Victor Sibusiso Ndlovu, a beneficiary, had this to say about his experience with the program: I didn’t know that this program could bring about some abilities that I wasn’t aware of initially. I’ve improved my graphic designing skills, project management skills, and communication skills. I did various courses, and I’ve gained a lot of experience. It is the most incredible program that I’ve joined this year, and I’m looking forward to more opportunities.
Thenjiwe Sibiya, one of the program’s facilitators, had this to say: “Students showed much dedication and commitment, they grab the opportunity with both hands. Some students went the extra mile and did more than the required courses.”
Conclusion
In partnership with ABSA, ORT SA is proud to impact youth involved in the programme, as various institutions have already employed some of the youth due to their newly gained skills. Without fail, this program has educated people for a better life.
by Milani Falitenjwa
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 22, 2021 | Old News
Photo by princess on Unsplash
To the Matric Class of 2020, a Message from Ariellah Rosenberg, CEO ORT SA
The matric results in South Africa are about to be published today. This post is for those youth waiting for the “final verdict”.
Your marks don’t define who you are and what you are capable of achieving!
12 years of schooling and all the experience, memories, knowledge and skills you gained come to one thing:
A number.
A figure that summarises in a digit or two the years you attended classes, memorised formulas, forgot your vocabulary, read prescribed books, summarised notes, sweated, shed some tears, cheated…
And it all comes to an end when you anticipate, heart pounding, the final results.
These are stressful times, now more than ever. You hear about the soaring unemployment rate due to Covid 19 and fear being a statistic. You may have registered to university with a specific objective in mind or just for the sake of getting a degree, or you may still be struggling with the decision of “what’s next”.
So let’s examine, possible worst-case scenarios, in that your marks don’t qualify you to enrol with your university or study of choice or that you are still in doubt of where to go from here. If you are in either of these positions, it is not the end of the world, although it may feel like it.
Remember, that your grades do not define who you are and what you are capable of doing.
Give it time, maturity and hard work. Be proactive, seeking ways you can achieve your goals or finding your purpose in life. It may not be in the time period you’ve planned it to be, but the time spent in learning and gaining work experience is not lost. On the contrary…
Carry on learning and gaining skills. You’d be surprised at how many online courses are offered for free. (See the list at the end of this article).
Progress in technology is changing the work environment significantly. Upgrade yourself, gain skills that will stand you apart from the rest. Explore the current skills that the job market is looking for.
Work experience can get you far, almost as much as a certificate or diploma can. If you can’t find a job, volunteer. Build up your CV with experiences and newly gained skills, but most importantly, extend your network. Go beyond the Fs; Friends, Family, and reach out to acquaintances and connections that can be of help in advising, mentoring or directing you in the right direction.
What defines who you are and what you are capable of is you.
With the right mindset and openness to learning, the sky is the limit.
Free Courses we Recommend:
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 22, 2021 | Old News
Photo by Robo Wunderkind on Unsplash
ORT and ORT SA’s Mission to Uplift Education and Teach Relevant Skills (Like Coding) to the Youth
How can we make today’s education curriculum relevant and up to date?
Some argue that while the many industrial revolutions and overall technological advancement have changed the way we do business, the education sector hasn’t caught up. When one enters a classroom today, it’s not too different from how (and what) we taught the youth in the 19th century when they were entering manufacturing and production driven workplaces.
The History of ORT
That’s why ORT, an educational NGO, was established in the midst of the 2nd Industrial Revolution. The goal has always been to evolve the nature and methods of education delivery so that they stay aligned with the technological changes facing our societies.
When ORT was established in 1880, it catered to the needs of the community and the job place, providing handicraft, agricultural and vocational training. It included courses such as teaching grain sifting, using knitting machines, auto mechanics and engineering courses. ORT’s goal has never changed, and to this day it remains to ensure the financial sustainability of communities, through education and skills development. ORT, through its 140 years has established schools and operations in over 60 countries specialising in STEM education and promoting entrepreneurship.
So when one wonders how to go about education in light of the transformation brought about by the 4th Industrial Revolution, it is natural to look at the worldwide network of ORT. Many schools in ORT’s network have incorporated coding and digital skills in their curriculum, enabling project-based learning through the incorporation of design thinking and problem-solving.
ORT in South Africa (ORT SA)
In South Africa, ORT SA has rolled out coding clubs in government schools attended by thousands of learners and assisted with building the educational capacity of hundreds of teachers since 2015. We teach people how to code, think analytically and think critically, along with technical skills relevant to today’s job market. Learning coding languages, application and website development also encourages teamwork, collaboration and finding solutions to community challenges proactively and innovatively.
To get education relevant and up to date, we need to transform the way we teach and adjust the curriculum we teach to our new generations accordingly. Coding and digital skills must become part and parcel of our curriculum, ensuring our youth are ready for the digital workplace.
To learn more about ORT SA you can go to www.ortsa.org.za
Or email helene@ortsa.org.za for BBBEE solutions
This article was written by Ariellah Rosenberg, ORT SA CEO
