by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 22, 2021 | Old News
The Liquid Telecom and ORT SA YES Program Tackles Youth Unemployment in SA
Author, Matshona Dhliwayo once said, “Today’s tears water tomorrow’s gardens.”
One might say this adage hearkens back to the more common proverb that things get better over time, but there’s more to it than that.
In South Africa, we are plagued by a persistent pandemic of a different sort. A crisis of unemployment and a lack of education that festers like a disease at the heart of our society.
But it’s not all bad news. We’d like to highlight how upskilling and educating the youth can change lives and begin to bring an end to this issue.
The Liquid Telecom YES (Youth Unemployment Services) Program
The Liquid Telecom YES program, in collaboration with ORT SA, started on the 28th of February 2020 and will be ending on the 28th of February 2021. The purpose of the program was to uplift 32 young individuals by teaching them Office Administration and computer literacy skills. The program faced numerous setbacks due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but the outcome was still an overwhelming success.
The program consisted of one year of work experience where the youth were placed in schools where they underwent Google Computer Science Facilitation and learned about Office Administration amongst other workplace roles.
During the course of the program, the young participants were exposed to a wide array of courses including Microsoft Office skills, Work Readiness skills, Introduction to Coding and the internationally recognised IT Essentials by Cisco course. All of these courses were designed not only to educate participants but also to prepare them to work in today’s fast-paced technological workplace.
What People Had to Say About the Program
Omphemetse Neethline Khuduge, one of the beneficiaries, had this to say about her experience: “The Liquid Telecom project has changed me a lot. I have become more of [sic] a different person than I was two years back. I obtained knowledge that will help me as an IT Technician.”
When asked about the project results thus far, Junior Project Manager at ORT SA Rivario Abrahams had this to say: “Firstly, this project has changed the youth’s thinking ability and I feel that they have gained a lot of knowledge in the twelve months of this program. Some of them have learned to invest their money, and others have opened their small businesses. It was a great experience managing the project and the youth.”
Conclusion
In the same way, uneducation and employment can be thought of as a pandemic eating away at our country, we also have a “vaccine” against it. We need to uplift and equip young people with the skills they need to take control of their own lives and work towards a better tomorrow.
By Milani Falitenjwa
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Jul 20, 2020 | Uncategorized
When Madiba was guest of honour at the 1996 graduation of ORT SA Technology students, he said,
“One tool that will enable people to rise above their circumstances is education, particularly education that leads to the acquisition of marketable tools.”
We continue this legacy during the ORT SA Mandela Week by extending the opportunity to you to join us for 3 amazing webinars that will lead you to acquire marketable tools.
Join us by clicking here for the 3 webinars:
Tuesday 21st July 3 pm -4:07 pm: How to be a Cyber Ninja
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpf-ivrTgiE9afCQXGsAyzXm-ldtK8BIQ4
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Mar 16, 2020 | Uncategorized
Dear All
We are all aware of the pandemic of the COVID19 and understand that in this times of uncertainties, it is best to stick to regulations and keep ourselves and staff informed as much as possible.
Yesterday, in his address to the nation, President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the actions to be taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following is the list of measures announced by Cyril Ramaphosa:
https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/coronavirus-all-the-latest-news-about-covid-19-in-south-africa-and-the-world-20200312
- A national state of disaster is declared in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
- Travel ban on high risk countries from 18 March 2020.
- SA Citizens to not travel to high risk countries.
- Gatherings of more than 100 people is prohibited.
- Large events and celebrations are cancelled.
- Schools closed from Wed 18 March until Easter weekend.
- working closely with unis, colleges etc. to increase hygiene and put other appropriate responses in place.
- Businesses are called upon to take measures to intensify hygiene control.
- Surveillance and testing systems are being strengthened at hospitals.
- Partnering with the private sector to develop a tracing, tracking and monitoring system for all those affected by coronavirus.
- Calling on everyone to take various personal measures as previously stated (hygiene, elbow greetings, etc.).
- Package to be put together as a response to the economic impact of the disease.
- Establishment of National Command Council chaired by Pres to meet 3 times a week to coordinate responses to pandemic.
What are we doing at ORT SA
Our plan of action is guided by ensuring the wellness of our staff and of our beneficiaries. https://www.ortsa.org.za/summing-up-2019/ We will be examining the guidelines from government and WHO (World Health Organisation) on a daily basis and will take the necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the virus and ensure the safety of all. At the moment, government’s recommendation is to avoid gatherings of more than 100 people. We are planning to take extra precaution of not more than 40 people in certain workshops and on condition that at least one meter space is kept between each person.
Operations
- All our workshops and talks run by ORT Jet have been cancelled till further notice. The reason for this is that, at the moment, many of the people carrying the COVID19 have been overseas and many of the participants of these workshops have either been overseas or been in touch with someone that has been overseas.
- The training run by the ORT SA Skills Academy will carry on in smaller groups of up to 20-25 people per group ensuring safe distance from each other
- STEM training, carries on with IT Essential (a group of less than 20 people) and with the NW IT Bridging course (32 beneficiaries)
- We will re-examine the above on a daily basis
HR
While the office is to remain open and operational, we will try our best to ensure that staff keeps to the hygiene guidelines. Special attention will be given to higher risk employees (TB, Hypertension, Pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and Diabetes).
We advise that anyone hosting youth or beneficiaries for training or workplace experience adhere to these simple rules:
1. Washing hands regularly, don’t touch your face
The best method to prevent Coronavirus is by washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water. Soap dissolves the fatty membrane holding the virus together and disintegrate when it comes in contact with soap and water. The way the virus spreads is through respiratory droplets (from a cough or a sneeze) getting into your nose, mouth or eyes. This is why it is recommended not to touch your face and cough into your elbow.
In addition, hand sanitizers will be available at central areas around ORT, including, at reception, for all training, in the upstairs area, at security hut and in our car.
2. Social Distancing
Minimise physical contact with others. Stop shaking hands (do the ‘CR elbow shake’) and don’t hug. Keep at least one meter from people in seating and meetings.
3. If anyone is feeling sick – speak to manager
If any staff experience any of the Coronavirus symptoms such as fever, coughing, problems breathing, they should alert their HOD or HR or line manager for further instructions or guidelines.
At the moment we are going with the motto that prevention is better than cure and putting measures in place to reduce the risk as much as possible.
Yours in education
Ariellah
CEO ORT SA
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 14, 2020 | Uncategorized
HOST UNEMPLOYED, MATRICULATED YOUTH IN YOUR BUSINESS FOR A 1-YEAR WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE
Written by: Ariellah Rosenberg, ORT SA CEO
The challenge of unemployment is one of the reasons ORT’s work in South Africa is so important.
“I’m 29 and I need a job or something that can help me bring income and feed my family. I … am desperately needing some job or internship to support my black family too.”
This is only one of hundreds of messages inundating ORT SA’s FB Messenger on a daily basis. Youth desperately looking for a job to provide for themselves and families with no luck while losing hope and confidence in themselves and the system.
This challenge of unemployment is one of the reasons ORT’s work in South Africa is important. ORT SA, an NGO affiliated to World ORT is celebrating 140 years of impacting lives through education. ORT SA’s mission of making people employable and creating employment opportunities is more pertinent and vital than ever, working in partnerships with government and other NGO’s in combatting the “war on unemployment”.
Recently the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) https://www.cde.org.za/
ORT SA CEO addressing the participants
discussed the concerning high rate of unemployment in the country. “Only four out of ten SA adults are employed, compared to six out of ten adults globally. South Africa has the deepest and most persistent crisis of unemployment in the world: only 42 percent of adults work”. Report January 2020, CDE.
Some solutions to increase employment, offered by various experts, such as the change of policies around property, labour and minimal wage require bold steps that may be beyond the NGO’s power to make real change. But there is a role for NGO’s to play in working with government to improve the quality of education and skills development in the country and providing opportunities to create jobs and strengthen small business enterprises.
ORT SA’s partnership with Yes4Youth https://www.yes4youth.co.za/for-youth/ is one collaborative approach to tackling the problem. The Yes4Youth is a partnership between government and corporates, aiming at placing one million youth in jobs for quality work experiences. Placing youth for a 12-month work experience is more than just providing them with an income for one year. The employed person is equipped with new knowledge, skills, disciplines and capabilities that no schooling would be able to provide. Youth placed in jobs for work experience gain not only knowledge and skills but also confidence and self-reliance that takes them out of this vicious cycle of non-employability.
ORT SA’s programmes for small businesses owners is designed to strengthen them through skills transfer and mentorship. The unemployed youth placed in the SME’s provide a pillar of administrative support that they could not otherwise afford. Should a business absorb this person after the year, it means that the business grew and it is a win-win situation for all.
“I am speechless. And so grateful to ORT SA for the opportunities they have given me,” says Tshepo Moami. “I was always interested in IT and was lucky to be a participant in the ORT SA IT Bridging course in 2018 and graduated with a Cisco IT Essentials certificate. Then they invited me to apply for the ORT SA/Yes 1-year work-experience programme and I was placed with Xpandit, an IT company, which services schools. After completing the year with Xpandit, they offered me a full-time position! Thanks a million to ORT SA. You have changed my life.”
Should you wish to host unemployed youth for one year, contact ian@ortsa.org.za
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Oct 23, 2019 | Uncategorized
Ariellah Rosenberg, ORT SA CEO welcomes guests to an end-of-year event:
“Welcome to ORT SA, members of the department of education, dear trustees of STET (Support Teacher Empowerment Trust), dear teachers and schools representatives, dear learners. We are happy to share with you this special occasion.
Today we are celebrating the achievement of completion of this STET funded Maths and Coding programme. With 81 teachers, impacting almost 4000 learners and the commitment of 15 student teachers dedicated to become part of the teaching profession.
To be a part of the ORT SA programmes, it requires dedication: the extra hours you have dedicated to learning, coaching and support in the classroom and the aptitude of a growth mindset as well as being open to constructive criticism.
We thank you for the opportunity to have taught you. When one teaches, two learn. ORT SA’s mission is not only to impart professional techniques, knowledge and skills in coding or math but I believe, to prepare you to continue learning and empowering yourselves, and then paying it forward by mentoring or coaching another fellow teacher or learner. That is our mission which we hope we have accomplished.
ORT turns 140 next year. ORT is an organisation, an institution and an idea. It is the idea that people must be autonomous in order to live a dignified life and that in order to achieve that autonomy one needs education, above all. Therefore, although ORT in each country and in each era adopts different forms, its spirit is the same – providing a quality education that allows people to access a dignified and independent life.
As the great Isaac Asimov said: “education is not something that one can finish.” We must prepare to live in a society in which learning will occur throughout life, in all places and at all times. We never know what changing technology and continuous learning will take, but we know that we will all have to learn and keep learning continuously.
Jorge Grunberg, the rector of ORT Uruguay University, said that the threat in this new world is not free trade or immigrants or robots. The threat in this new world is ignorance. Ignorance is the great barrier to cross into the 21st century.
An ignorant nation cannot be free. To neglect our education is to neglect our freedom and our prosperity. An ignorant nation is dominated by charlatans and demagogues. It is not our assets that will project us into the future, but what we do to cultivate the intelligence and potential of our youth.
I would like to thank Ricci and the STET trustees for believing in our mission and Moabi from DOE District supporting this incredible project. To our dedicated and passionate STEM team working tirelessly to ensure we achieve excellence in all that we do. And to all of you here today. Find your own path, but know that ORT will always be your home.”
