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 | Jul 24, 2019 | Uncategorized
Welcome to ORT SA!
People who work for ORT SA share many things in common. They are passionate, innovative, professional…they hold onto ORT’s values but mostly are driven with ORT SA’s mission of making people employable and creating employment opportunities
We do that through our ORT SA STEM Academy: working with schools, through STEM education, IT, coding and leadership training, with the understanding that in order to equip the generation of today with the skills for tomorrow we need to start as early as possible.
We do so through our ORT SA Skills and Enterprise Development Academy with our post schooling programmes in IT, skills development and entrepreneurship with the understanding that to become employable one needs the skills, life skills but also work experience. This is why we partnered with the YES Campaign and also offer learnerships with different SETAs
Small businesses are a vital pillar which the country’s economy relies on, and ORT Jet ( a division of ORT SA) has assisted thousands of businesses with providing the tools and support to entrepreneurs and small business to become financially sustainable.
The ORT SA Eric and Sheila Samson IT Academy was established to bridge the digital divide of knowledge, skills and awareness towards IT career options. And becoming a Cisco Networking Academy has allowed ORT SA to offer hundreds of unemployed youth with IT tools and skills.
Our new Career Hub was created to expose people and youth to career options; to what the “jobs of the future” are all about, to let them explore their strengths, passion and future paths as well as providing experience and skills transfer to make sure they are ready and equipped for the workplace.
ORT SA prides itself with its affiliation to World ORT and its legacy of almost 140 years fulfilling its vision of ‘Educating for Life’ and impacting communities through education.
We help businesses with their BBBEE and fulfilling their CSI strategy or vision.
We help government with its efforts to improve education and skills development and we help businesses to improve their profitability and financial sustainability
Join ORT SA as a member, a Youth Club member, volunteer, donor, corporate partner or a beneficiary and be part of an organisation that uses the power of education to make a change in the world.
Ariellah Rosenberg
ORT SA CEO
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 28, 2019 | Old News
We are offering a unique opportunity to young people who are entrepreneurs at heart and love computers and technology to get a business going.
The ORT SA ICT Entrepreneurship Programme 2019 offers:
Two months of classroom training in:
- CISCO in IT Essentials (certified)
- Microsoft Fundamentals
- Basic Coding
- Business Enterprise Training
- 10 months business support with group mentoring & business sharing forums.
Application Criteria:
- South African Black (male or female)
- Age 18 – 34
- Matric (Grade 12)
- Unemployed
- ICT start up business or interest
- Viable ICT Business Idea
Cost:
No cost; only your commitment.
For more information, please contact: Zarina Parker; 011 728 7154; zarina@ortsa.org.za
DEADLINE FOR INTEREST: 5 MARCH 2019
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Dec 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
Despite the political and economic instability of our landscape, ORT SA gathered momentum almost from the start of 2018 and as we journeyed through the year, ORT SA’s achievements continued to grow and our Vision of ‘Educating for Life’ and Mission of ‘Making People Employable’ becoming more and more tangible. It turned out to be an excellent year!
So, thank you to our donors, funders, suppORTers and followers. We are so grateful for your support. Your willingness to assist has played a vital role in the growth of our organization and goes beyond just pure numbers, as lives are impacted. Without your engagement and partnership we could not have helped 6 800 beneficiaries this year.
Achievements:
59 post matrics gained an average 92.5% pass rate in the Second Chance programme (rewriting of matric mathematics and science). As a result of ORT SA’s intervention, almost half of these students have just completed their 1st year at university!
600 primary and high school pupils in ORT SA’s Extra Mural Coding Clubs, up from 200 Grade 4-8’s in 2017
60 teachers completed the introduction to coding course with ORT SA
200 youth placed in a 1-year work experience positions
6 young women received bursaries to study Education through ORT SA’s affiliate, STET Foundation.
34 unemployed youth learned IT skills including the accredited Cisco IT Essentials
7 high school pupils obtained the Cisco IT Essentials certification
15 Disabled youth get a chance at learning how to run their own business
1285 people participated in an eclectic variety of talks and interesting events which took place at the ORT SA Academy in 2018. This includes an art exhibition, a ‘storytelling’ workshop, digital workshops, a work summit for youth, business training, captains of industry in the ORT SA Boardroom: Simon Sussman (Woolworths), Sylvester Chauke (entrepreneur), James Teeger ( Oppenheimer Trust),
1000 pupils celebrated Mandela Day with ORT SA and Sage
320 teachers trained in Mathematics
2408 pupils assisted in Mathematics in class by ORT SA Facilitators
450 high school pupils trained in New Venture Creation (to start and grow sustainable businesses)
323 Mentors for small businesses
47 new small businesses joined the ORT Jet training programme
TOTAL 2018: 6800
Other exciting happenings:
- A whole new look for ORT SA – a rebranding exercise in accordance with World ORT
- An historic affiliation agreement signed between the SABJE and World ORT
- Overseas visitors and overseas visits for ORT SA affiliates
- Fundraising events such as the first ever Spinnathon ™ in SA and the 45th ORT SA Golf Classic
- ORT SA archives and library organized by a volunteer librarian.
The NGO space world-wide is becoming increasingly more difficult to navigate. In South Africa, Education receives the most CSI funding which makes the competition fierce for non-profits. But with your assistance, we are up for the challenge in 2019.
Marcelle Ravid
Marketing and Communications Manager
ORT South Africa
