by Hugh C.n. Miller | Oct 19, 2018 | Uncategorized
One of the main ways to eradicate poverty, defeat crime and reduce unemployment is through education.
One of the many stories that tells of what , why and how we do it at ORT SA.
When Ziyanda was approached to come up with a problem in her community and provide a solution that incorporates technology, it didn’t take long for her group to come up with an idea they thought was great! Designing a digital timetable that alerts the teacher that it’s time for class! It seemed to be a bit cheeky but it was a real problem for these pupils. With the help of Amini, the ORT SA Coding Coordinator, the group designed a digital time table to alert teachers and the principal if the teacher was absent. This invention was presented at the ORT SA end of yer event and received a standing ovation. You see, the group of girls were from Ivory Park,a township community situated north of Johannesburg, and they were 13 years old at the time!
There are many challenges facing us in education in South Africa, but ORT SA’s proactive approach to challenges allows us to build capacity at schools in Math, Coding and Leadership.We are now running Coding Clubs in 20 schools / 60 teachers with more than 600 learners across schools in Gauteng.
BTW, Zeanda will be traveling to Argentina at the end of the month together with 12 other learners and three teachers to an educational programme organised by Pope Frances and World ORT.
By Ariellah Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer, ORT SA
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Mar 16, 2018 | Uncategorized
Let there be light.
Let there be light
‘ I want you to know that you have changed my life completely. ‘
Privy to dwindling resources, in a time of water shortages and contemporary complications of the political kind that have dire effects on our ability to switch our lights on and off… there is hope yet. We refuse to let the darkness persist. A country that has the ability to stay hopeful breeds a population that is able to do the same in times of cynicism. Our collective history is one that has been filled with dark tales but rays of sunshine have managed to seep in.
On the particular day that brought me to this account, my special ray of sunshine came in the form of a letter in the drawer next to my desk. This discovery just happened to take place as I was perusing a vintage ORT South Africa folder- a forgotten letter in one of the ORT South Africa files nearly as old as myself, containing a testimonial from a particular student dated the 12th of December 1999. As i skimmed through the hand-writing, the words were reminiscent of the newly appointed President’s ‘Send Me’ SONA speech and peaked my imagine. In this context, it would be safe to desribe it as a proverbial light bulb moment.
As an ORT South Africa intern and familiarising myself with an organisation that is actively making a difference I can’t help but want to embody this difference that I see. The unfortunate nature of modern civilisation – and my generation in particular- has shaped many a millennial into taking for granted the efforts of many ordinary citizens within non-profit organisations like ORT South Africa. As the Y-Generation that has a centralised focus on their individual selves , we need to remind ourselves of the values of Ubuntu that should be ingrained as a united as a people of the African continent.
‘ I want you to know that you have changed my life completely. ‘
the letter reads..
‘ I can see where I stand now because of this foundation, not to me only that you have brought light but to all the young and old that you have helped. ‘
The long standing impact that these programmes have, shaping individuals and ultimately shaping their communities and the world, the discovery of this letter lead me to a journey of contemplation. ORT South Africa is affiliated to the international mother organisation World ORT which was established in Russia in 1880. The universal theme that underpins this organisation is not blatant hand-outs but rather a hand up. Being a player in the international arena is further proof of the organisation’s consistency and determination to make the world of difference to me, to you and to everyone that it can possibly reach. It’s important to remember always… It may be dark at fist, but surely there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
by Hugh C.n. Miller | Feb 8, 2017 | Uncategorized
RSVP debbie@ortsa.org.za. For more information on the wheel go to: ortsacape.org.za/what-we-do/casper- literacy.html
