A group of 18 local entrepreneurs were able to acquire vital digital skills recently thanks to a collaboration between Stellenbosch Municipality, Stellenbosch Network, and the MiDO Foundation.

Funding received from the Stellenbosch Municipality made it possible for the entrepreneurs, who run small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMME), to complete a free Google Workspace training course presented by the MiDO Foundation. The training consisted of five sessions focused on, amongst others, setting up an e-mail account, using the calendar app to better manage a diary, setting up task lists and reminders for projects, and client feedback surveys. It was presented over a five-week period at the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch.

One of the entrepreneurs who attended the training is Vlottenburg resident Sonia Bell, who co-owns a rabbitry.

“Before I only used Google for e-mails and for its calendar [function]. The training made me more proficient in other Google apps and will also increase efficiency in my business,” said Bell.

She also learnt how to collaborate with others on projects by using Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Slides.

“I no longer have to use PowerPoint if I want to create a presentation and collaborate with others. The mere fact that I now know how to share documents with others and collaborate with them, has made it so much easier for me to work with people across the world,” says Bell, who also works on a part-time basis as an assessor for the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, and as an administrator for the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations.

She has used the knowledge she gained to also experiment with Google Sheets and Google Forms, which will be useful to help her manage and keep track of financial information and stock, as well as create client enquiry forms and get feedback on the products she sells.

According to Nadine Farao, Stakeholder Relations Manager at the MiDO Foundation, the training provides entrepreneurs with a solid understanding of how to use technology effectively in their business in order to support business growth.

“In today’s digitally driven society it has become essential that we remain digitally engaged and connected, and more so for entrepreneurs. We see digital engagement and connection as burning needs for our clients and beneficiaries. This is why the foundation focuses on providing beneficiaries with the means to take the first steps towards digital literacy, which consists of mastering a few key skills,” explained Farao.

These skills include learning how to use an electronic device like a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet.

“Thereafter, we move on to the meat, if you will, of our programme which is how to use Google apps. The focus here is to familiarise participants with the platform and teach them core skills that include but are not limited to, Gmail, Forms, Slides, Docs and more. The training concludes with exercises that the participants must complete using the apps to reinforce what they have learnt.”

Reon King, who owns A1 Auto Body Repairs which is based in Cloetesville industrial area, said that when the training kicked off, he was convinced that he knew everything there was to know about Google Workspace.

“At the beginning I really thought I knew everything we were learning about, but as we went along, I realised that there was a lot that I did not know and could still learn about Google [Workspace],” he explained.

While King had been using Gmail before, he was not using other apps like the calendar function. This caused problems as he sometimes found himself rushing to an appointment he remembered at the last minute, not having enough time to prepare before seeing a client, or forgetting about admin work he needed to do, which impacted on how fast quotes were sent out.

“I didn’t really think about how the calendar could help me become better organised. I also did not use Google Forms, but now I know how useful it can be in my business. Going forward, I can do work on a client’s vehicle and set up a Google Form that I can automate to go out to that same client six months later to find out if they are still satisfied with the work I did.”

By engaging with his clients in this manner, King will also remain top of mind.

“I am really chuffed that I can use Google Forms to get more information from my clients so that I know what kinds of services they are interested in and ensure I market those services to them. I will also be able to streamline my operations. So, this training was definitely worth attending.”

Hanli Brink, Operations Director of Stellenbosch Network, said that the network decided to partner with the MiDO Foundation because of the incredible work they do to digitise businesses and learners in the greater Stellenbosch area.

“The MiDO Foundation is also a Stellenbosch Network member and we love to collaborate with our members. By doing this we can work together to grow stronger SMMEs and entrepreneurs,” added Brink.

According to Mayor Gesie van Deventer, Stellenbosch Municipality makes a point of investing in local entrepreneurs because of the contribution they make to the local economy.

“Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises are the heartbeat of our municipality’s local economy. These businesses, be they established companies, spaza shops or start-ups, employ thousands of residents and stimulate the local economy. As a responsible and caring local government, we continuously work to create a conducive environment that is safe, clean, and attractive to business and investment,” she said.

According to Crusade Malgas, Office Administrator at Bergzicht Training in Stellenbosch, she is grateful that the training she underwent has helped her to resolve the NGO’s challenge with collecting beneficiary data. Before Malgas became aware that Google Forms could be set up to collect beneficiary data, the organisation had to gather data by asking students to visit its office and complete forms in person. However, she can now create application forms online and distribute the links to students, making it more convenient for them and for her to collect information.

Now that the training has been completed, Farao is looking to local donors to help those entrepreneurs without electronic devices to acquire a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet so they can continue to apply and practice their digital skills.

“Now that the training is done, entrepreneurs will be able to test themselves and what they’ve learnt through a portfolio of evidence and follow-up examinations that they need to complete. This will ensure that the information they acquired remains top of mind and allow them to apply that information in real life after they’ve left the training environment.”

Any businesses or individuals who are able to contribute to the costs of an electronic device, donate one that is still in working order, or wish to donate a new one to help some of the entrepreneurs who do not own a device can contact Nadine Farao at 067 068 1977 or nadine@mido.org.za.

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One of the foundation’s most recent collaborations involves Entersekt, a global leader in device identity and customer authentication software, and Mindjoy, an edtech start-up that’s for kids. Through this partnership, 60 learners at Lückhoff High School have been given a unique opportunity to spend nine months acquiring essential coding and programming language skills (Python, HTML, and CSS) through small group coding projects. These skills have become crucial to many jobs as the world finds itself in the 4IR.

The pilot training programme, which will run until December this year, is funded by Entersekt, and run by Mindjoy. Each week learners will participate in an hour-long session in the Digital Hub where they will connect to coding training sessions via Zoom and the Mindjoy platform. The sessions will be facilitated by a Mindjoy coach, who could be based anywhere in South Africa. Mindjoy will also track the skills and progress of each learner and once they have completed a track, learners will earn a Mindjoy Coding Certificate.

Some of the learners that are already benefiting from the programme include Tasneem Benjamin, Kodi Calvert and Cailey van der Merwe who are all in Grade 10.

According to Tasneem, she had no idea what coding was when she decided to join the programme.

“It has actually been great learning how to code and doing group learning with other learners.”

“When I was busy with project eight, I had to figure out how to use what I had learnt to go from one quadrant to another and create shapes that I can move from one place to another place. It was difficult because I didn’t know what was going on and why things weren’t moving, but it was so exciting when I finally figured it out and could celebrate that achievement with others as well as the coach, who offers us support and is always cheering us on.”

For Kodi, coding was something she had heard about in movies and had seen people speaking about on social media.

“I’ve always heard about it, but to be able to do it in real life, that is a totally different experience. You are learning how to use a [language] that is complicated, and learning it step by step so that you can build up your skills bit by bit. In my first project I already learnt how to code a colourful line,” says an excited Kodi.

The training has opened her eyes to how she can apply the skills she is learning in future as well as the careers that learners can follow.

“It’s thrilling to learn these new things.”

“I think it would be great if we could code a specific programme that other learners can build on. Who knows, maybe one day we can start a company by using the skills we have learnt. That would be the bigger plan,” she adds.

Like Tasneem, Cailey has enjoyed the experience of self-learning and figuring out problems on her own with the support of a coach.

“I am learning a new skill that will help me access more opportunities and the digital skills I am learning I can also use in my school subjects,” says Cailey.

She believes that if more learners were able to do the programme in future that there would be an increase in youth interested in doing coding and programming after school.

“I think the further one goes in coding and the more you learn about programming, the more you want to learn and enhance your skills to get even better at it.”

According to Daniel Solomons, Executive Director of the MiDO Foundation, the organisation “doesn’t ever want to build a hub that turns into a white elephant”.

“Technology continuously evolves and one can so easily fall behind and become irrelevant if your programmes do not keep up with technology. The collaboration with Entersekt and Mindjoy allows us to work together to achieve a common goal.”

“In order to achieve this, we follow a more hands-on approach and make sure that hub programmes are streamlined and allow young people to engage with technology continuously,” says Solomons.

Gabi Immelman, the founder and CEO of Mindjoy, explains that before starting the pilot training programme, the organisation conducted a baseline survey with learners as a measure to understand perceptions around digital skills and attitudes towards pursuing programming as a career path.

“At the end of the pilot we would like to survey students again to see if there is a shift in their understanding of programming and attitudes to career paths,” says Immelman.

“Entersekt, the MiDO Foundation and Mindjoy all believe in helping students build their competencies as digital citizens to develop essential skills for the future of work, but also to support learners in having the necessary skills to access economic opportunities.”

Arno Kemp, Vice President of Transformation and Growth at Entersekt, says that the collaboration “is an undisputed recipe for digital skills education” and “digital skills supply in South Africa”.

“Our labour market is under duress, with these skills being both scarce and in high demand. This is one of the vehicles of remedy we are proud to support and nurture, with invaluable partnerships and communities at its heart,” says Kemp.

Learners and Mindjoy trainers are supported by the foundation’s Digital Hub Coordinator, Mary-Ann van der Merwe, who is responsible for managing the training schedule for this programme and preparing the venue for use by the trainers and learners. Digital Hub Coordinators are appointed at each of the foundation’s hubs to manage the space; provide support to teachers and learners when they utilise equipment, software, and the internet. Van der Merwe also helps to present and facilitate programmes.

Van der Merwe says she has noticed a marked increase in learner curiosity since they have started to learn coding and programming.

“Learners often stay after their programme session is done, with some staying 30 minutes to one hour and 30 minutes longer,” says Van der Merwe.

Solomons says that listening to the feedback from learners, it is clear that the MiDO Foundation’s philosophy of pursuing collaborations and building partnerships, as well as the dedication of partners like Entersekt and Mindjoy to providing more South African learners with digital skills, has helped the foundation increase its impact on communities beyond what it could have imagined.

“Gone are the days of doing everything all by yourself – working together and achieving a common goal together has become the norm. Since its inception in 2018 the MiDO Foundation has believed in partnerships that are relational, meaning that good relationships form the basis of good collaboration and collective success not only for those organisations involved, but specifically for our beneficiaries,” says Solomons.

The MiDO Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on fostering digital citizenship through digital literacy and creating pathways out of poverty for its beneficiaries through partnerships and collaboration.

Photo: Grade 10 learners (from the left) Tasneem Benjamin, Kodi Calvert and Cailey van der Merwe enjoy practising their coding and programming skills in the Lückhoff High School Digital Hub. With them is Mary-Ann van der Merwe, the Digital Hub Coordinator. (Lynne Rippenaar-Moses)

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Since launching in 2001, Capitec’s has transformed banking and has become South Africa’s biggest digital bank through an unwavering focus on its fundamentals of simplicity, affordability, accessibility, and personalised experience, combined with agility and digitalisation.

“You can disrupt almost anything with technology. Capitec disrupted banking through innovation and technology,” said Jean Rossouw, Head: Financial Education in Marketing and Communications at Capitec Bank during the launch of the hub.

“A digital hub lends itself to support various educational initiatives including after-school programmes. Capitec identified an opportunity where a digital hub could lend support to the Capitec Foundation’s educational programmes.”

Rossouw said that Capitec believes that the “space will allow learners to explore and collaborate with and through technology” and that the hub can “serve as an enabler that will support innovation and learning”.

Standing in the new hub at New Orleans Secondary School is from the New Orleans Head Girl,Tori Pietersen, New Orlean’s Principal, Mr Andrew Groeneveld, Executive Director of the MiDO Foundation, Mr Daniel Solomons, New Orleans Deputy Head Girl, Tendani Chebani, and Ms Jean Rossouw, Head: Financial Education in Marketing and Communications at Capitec Bank. (Refiloe Raphasha)

“When it comes to technology, we should embrace change. The pace at which digital innovation and disruption is happening will continue to increase. As teachers and parents, we need to embrace technology for its potential to empower learners.”

New Orleans was one of a few schools that were evaluated on its readiness to open a digital hub and to implement and utilise technology for learning and teaching as well as the development of learners to become digital citizens.

Mr Andrew Groeneveld, New Orleans’ principal, has been at the school for 38 years – first serving as a teacher for six years and then leading the school in various management capacities for 32 years. He said that he was excited to have a digital hub at New Orleans and content in the knowledge that the school’s learners and teachers had a space on the school premises now that would provide them with the opportunity to learn and expand their digital skills and digital literacy.

“The moment I heard we had been selected to receive this hub, I created a committee consisting of some of our staff members, many of whom are young and quite technologically advanced. They will be our hub champions and will work together with Tarryn, our Digital Hub Coordinator, to come up with new and refreshing ideas about how this space can be used to its full potential and how we can continue to grow our learners’ digital knowledge and experience,” explained Groeneveld.

Digital Hub Coordinators are appointed by the MiDO Foundation to work in the digital hub to develop the digital and IT skills of learners and to guide the learners as they explore the technology on offer. Local young, unskilled, and unemployed individuals from low income communities are trained and equipped with technical knowledge and skills through the MiDO Foundation’s 12-month Digital Citizenship Programme, while also receiving an income. Tarryn Theunissen from Paarl will work as the coordinator at New Orleans.

Other sponsors that invested in the hub include PAV and Cecil Nurse. Ethan Achilles, a young man from Idas Valley, was responsible for designing the new hub.

Addressing the sponsors, Groeneveld said: “Our sincere thanks for your willingness to invest in the community of Paarl as well as other communities in our province. With this investment you are actually investing in the future of our country as this hub can help our learners and therefore our communities to prepare for the careers and professions of the future. Professions such as graphic design, robotics, coding, videography, and photography. It reminds me of the words of the Whitney Houston song – ‘I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way’. This hub will increase the opportunities available to our learners.”

According to Dale Simons, Managing Director of MiDO Technologies, the hub forms part of the foundation’s vision and mission to equip the youth with digital skills, digital literacy, and digital citizenship skills.

“We want to create pathways out of poverty for the youth of this country. That is what drives us. We want to address systemic poverty and economic dispossession and exclusion by ensuring our youth have the skills to uplift themselves. We often talk about creating jobs for our youth, but how can we create jobs if we are not also providing our youth with the skills they’ll need to do those jobs. We want our youth to see how technology can empower them and that is why our hubs are learner centred and based in schools,” explained Simons.

Also at the event, was foundation Board member Mr Mario Mufweba, who is a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Pedagogy at Stellenbosch University and a Training Facilitator at the University of the Western Cape. Mufweba was part of the team that visited various schools to determine their readiness for a hub.

“This is a special school. In order to work towards creating a first class facility like this school requires confidence. But where does it start? It starts with a strong, visionary leadership. When we first came here, I saw the garden workers hard at work making this school a home for the children. I saw trophies and medals on display, which indicates that this school celebrates the achievements of its learners, and right next to the secretary’s office was a list of the A achievers in this school.”

“Mr Andrews walked us into his office and the first thing he did, was ask ‘sir can I call in my team?’. That is a leader that knows that he can only achieve what he wants to achieve with his team.”

Rodwin de Wet, Head Boy of New Orleans Secondary, and Head Girl Tori Pietersen, as well Deputy Head Girl Tendani Chebani and Deputy Head Boy, Andruwaldo Lakey, shared their hopes for how the space could be used.

Rodwin de Wet, Head Boy of New Orleans Secondary, and Head Girl Tori Pietersen, as well Deputy Head Girl Tendani Chebani and Deputy Head Boy, Andruwaldo Lakey, celebrate the Digital Hub at New Orleans Secondary School.(Refiloe Raphasha)

“The hub is unlike any other class. It is a place to have fun and learn with increased efficiency. It will provide learners with the opportunity to learn digital skills, explore technology and expand their knowledge, which will open up a new world for them as they can now search for and apply to university, and increase their chances of finding a job after finishing school. It will expand learners education beyond their normal subjects and expose them to other career options in computer science and technology,” said Chebani.

She said that she was looking forward to learning new skills, like how to use Kahoots, a game-based learning platform; and coding, which she always wanted to learn, but did not have the financial resources to do.

“This hub will also help learners who do not have access to computers or wifi at home.”

De Wet thanked Capitec, PAV, Cecil Nurse, and the MiDO Foundation for making the hub a reality at the school.

“To my knowledge, this is the first time in the history of New Orleans Secondary that the learners are exposed to an environment such as this,” said De Wet.

“Yesterday I was privileged to be one of the first learners at our school to enter the newly created digital hub. When I stepped into the hub, the first thing I saw was the interior design, which looked incredible. The patterns on the wall made you feel calm, and the aesthetics of the room was modern and welcoming. It feels like a place where learners can express their creativity, where they can apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems.”

“One of the questions that learners always ask, is if school is preparing us for the 21^st century and the digital space. This hub will be a space for learners to learn from each other and use technology along with skills like communication, collaboration, and innovation. This is just a few of the skills learners will need to succeed as jobs now require us to have technological skills,” added De Wet.

Like the school principal, staff, learner leadership, and hub coordinator, Simons is optimistic about the impact that the hub will have on New Orleans.

“Once you open that door, our learners will open our eyes to things we have not yet discovered ourselves. Something great is going to happen once the learners start to use this space to learn and discover.”

“This partnership that we have built with Capitec and sponsors like PAV and Cecil Nurse has once again proven the value of working together towards a common goal. Current learners and future generations will now reap the rewards of this investment. This is why I believe in the African proverb that says – ‘if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’,” said Simons.

To connect with the MiDO Foundation, contact Nadine at nadine@mido.org.za or on 084 628 3861.

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This quote is from a teacher who participated in the MiDO Foundation’s Google Level 1 training session recently and perfectly sums up what the MiDO Foundation aims to do by investing in the digital skills training of teachers. The training was presented online, with teachers able to participate from the comfort of their homes or at their schools.

The Google Level 1 training comprises five sessions, of which three took place in June and two in August due to various changes in lockdown levels during 2021. Twenty-five teachers from 12 schools completed the training and were awarded with a certificate of completion at the end of their training at a ceremony held at Gordon Secondary School. The MiDO Foundation installed a Digital Technology Hub at the school.

Main photo: Here are all the teachers who participated in the Google Level 1 training presented online. With them is Daniel Solomons (back row, sixth from the left), the Executive Director of the MiDO Foundation, and Jayden Lackay (third from the left in the front row) from the Trim Tab Foundation.

Teachers that participated in the training came from A.C.J Phakade School, Christmas Tinto Primary School, Dr. G.J Joubert Primary School, Gordon High School, Nomzamo High School, Rusthof Primary School, Rusthof High School, Simanyene High School, Silukhanyo Primary School, Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School, Somerset Methodist Primary School and Temperance Town Primary School.

The Google Level 1 training focuses on digital competencies related to Google products. The teachers also received Chromebooks at the start of the training, which was sponsored by the Trim Tab Foundation (previously Rupert Foundation).

On the day of the certificate ceremony, Daniel Solomons, Executive Director of the MiDO Foundation, said: “We hope that the seed that we have planted in you will multiply and grow and make an impact on the lives of the young people you are teaching.”

Sonja Sass, a teacher at Gordon High School, said that she felt that the training “gave her the self-confidence as an educator to apply technology” in her classroom, something she would not have done before.

Sonja Sass from Gordon High School receives her Google Level 1 certificate from Jayden Lackay from the Trim Tab Foundation. (Lynne Rippenaar-Moses)

“It also helped me grow professionally and open myself up to the learning of new skills. It creates opportunities for creativity as well as better collaboration with others. This training has also helped a scatterbrain like myself become more organised.”

Lauren Krotz, a teacher from Rusthof High School, said that she could already apply the training she received in her classroom and that learners were benefiting from it.

Lauren Krotz from Rusthof High School receives her Google Level 1 certificate from Jayden Lackay from the Trim Tab Foundation. (Lynne Rippenaar-Moses-Moses)

“Organisation is really key for all educators,” she said. “And being able to use a calendar that has made scheduling tasks much easier, has made me a more efficient teacher.”

She also said the training was vital because in today’s world, especially as teachers are expected to be digitally literate and innovative in their teaching.

“Before starting the training I was using Google for basic things. When the course started it opened new doors for me. I discovered different apps like Google Docs, which I had no idea I could create at home and allows my colleagues to put something in the same document from a different place,” added Sibone Mtyobile, Vice Principal of Christmas Tinto Primary School.

Sibone Mtyobile, Vice Principal of Christmas Tinto Primary School, receives his Google Level 1 certificate from Jayden Lackay from the Trim Tab Foundation. (Lynne Rippenaar-Moses)

“The world is moving into a digital [future] and a paperless society and I think this course is a great way of helping teachers to move away from using paper and work together online.”

“I want to thank the MiDO Foundation and the sponsors. I heard you say earlier that there were 25 of us, but in fact there were more people because I was representing the community that I come from, so it will not only benefit me, because I am going back to show my colleagues what I have learnt and teach my learners too.”

Jayden Lackay from the Trim Tab Foundation was also present to congratulate the teachers on finishing their training.

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The training will enable entrepreneurs to use Google Workspace applications effectively to manage and grow their business as well as improve client engagement.

The MiDO Foundation is the philanthropic arm of MiDO Technologies, a Stellenbosch-based company that specialises in providing digital literacy solutions in schools, the workplace, and for entrepreneurs. Ranyaka is a Stellenbosch-based urban planning social enterprise (non-profit) that works in seven provinces across South Africa and engages with communities in pursuit of holistic, sustainable, and positive socio-economic impact. Ranyaka is also the national implementation agent for the Nedbank Proud of my Town programme.

Three local entrepreneurs that benefitted from the training are Lerato Mthiya, the co-owner of a local fashion label called Yeyethu Designer Studio, Cassiem Arnolds, the owner of a pool servicing business that is based in Idas Valley, and Zane Fransman, the owner of Fransman Barbershop in Jamestown.

“I am a fashion designer from Khayamandi in Stellenbosch,” says Lerato. “However, I never got the opportunity to finish my matric. That did not discourage me from reaching my dream of owning a business, so after I graduated from the Paarl School of Skills in 2015, I decided to open my own fashion label with the help of my business partner, Bulelwa Tito. We started the business in 2017 and registered our company in late 2018, and we are still operating today producing traditional garments.”

The Google Workspace training sessions, says Lerato, have been eye-opening for him, especially since many business owners tend to pay more attention to the production side of the company and forget the key role that good administration plays in a business. He has already started using Google Docs to create client questionnaires.

“Knowing how your customers feel about your services is an important part of knowing where the business is lacking so that you can work on what to do, to give them better service. Even with the previous session, I was not aware that I could create a Google Calendar that my business partner and I could use to keep tabs on appointments with our customers.”

He encourages up-and-coming entrepreneurs to acquire digital skills and sign up for these sessions, especially now, with most things happening online.

“These skills will come in handy in getting new clients for your business and making sure your business runs smoothly,” he adds.

Cassiem, who is the owner of Arnold’s Pool Services, services swimming pools in Stellenbosch. After dropping out of school,  he spent six years at home without a job. His mom encouraged him to apply for a plumbing diploma at a skills development school.

“After graduating, I worked for a construction company for three months and decided to resign to start my own business. I am currently the only person in my business who does the swimming pool maintenance, plumbing, and all the technical work, but I recently got a lady to help me with the administrative side of the business.”

Cassiem learned about MiDO’s training sessions on social media and saw it as a great opportunity to grow his business as well as his networks.

“My experience so far with the training has been nothing but informative. For someone who started without any knowledge of Google Workspace, I have surely gained a lot of basic insight other than just Googling. The people offering the training pay attention to detail in making sure that we grasp everything they teach us. I am still learning and cannot wait to execute everything that I have learned in my business.”

One of the skills that Cassiem is currently using in his business is e-mail etiquette and it is working in his favour.

Zane, who is an owner of a local barbershop, says that the training was really good.

“I have worked on Google calendars in the past, however, I have always written down my to-do list on a piece of paper. It’s how I also set goals for my business. I wasn’t using all the Google calendar functions and was therefore not always taking action with regard to my task list. Now I use all the functions, which remind me of my daily tasks, goals, as well as events I need to attend. I’m really benefiting from making full use of the Google calendar functions as it helps me to take action.”

For more information about digital skills training offered by the MiDO Foundation, please contact Nadine Farao, Sales and Marketing Manager at MiDO Technologies at nadine@mido.co.za.

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The YES programme was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2018 to address the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa. The programme offers unemployed youth a 12-month work placement, which equips them with a toolkit of skills that may assist them in future employment opportunities, as well as becoming role models in their communities. According
to recent statistics from Statistics South Africa, the unemployment rate for youth
aged 15-34 years is 46.3%. Much of this increase is due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa and the rest of the world. However, since 2018, more than 1 571 corporations have signed up for the YES programme with more than 58 760 work experiences created for black youth between the ages of 18 and 35 with no government funding.

The MiDO Foundation is the philanthropic arm of MiDO Technologies, a business that provides innovative and tailored digital solutions to corporations, small and medium enterprises, and schools. Since 2017, the MiDO Technologies team have filtered their expertise and knowledge in information and communication technology (ICT) into the foundation’s Digital Citizenship Programme. The programme focuses on empowering unemployed youth to take control of their future by equipping them with digital skills and soft skills focused on digital communication, access, literacy, etiquette, and rights and responsibilities. The Digital Citizenship Programme provides youth, especially unskilled youth, from lower-income communities with opportunities to apply for internships to develop technical skills required in the ICT sector through a mentorship and industry-based 12-month paid internship each year. In 2020, the foundation teamed with Entersekt, a global fintech company, through the YES programme to extend the impact of its programme.

The MiDO Foundation currently has seven Digital Hubs at various schools across the Western Cape. The hubs are used to develop the digital and IT skills of learners under the supervision of a Digital Hub Coordinator. Entersekt and MiDO have been working together since 2017 when Entersekt first invested in a number of corporate social investment initiatives that would benefit youth and learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in the greater Jamestown area in Stellenbosch and beyond.  These joint initiatives included establishing a digital hub at Stellenzicht Secondary School in Jamestown and equipping the hub with digital devices, furniture and a coffee machine. The school’s Digital Hub Coordinator’s monthly salary is also sponsored by Entersekt.

“Our business was founded on the idea of providing innovative digital solutions to various organisations so that South African society was ready for the fourth industrial revolution when it arrived. We all believed that we were a long way off from entering the fourth industrial revolution, but the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated that process and we now find ourselves in the midst of that revolution. Digital skills are no longer a nice-to-have, it is essential for learners, students and workers to succeed at school, at university or in the workplace. Without it, many citizens will be left behind and will not easily find employment in future,” says Dale Simons, Founder and Managing Director of MiDO Technologies.

“Additionally, youth from disadvantaged communities often do not acquire digital skills for a number of reasons. This ranges from not having access to electronic devices and WIFI, the high cost of data in South Africa, poor quality internet connection in some areas, a lack of digital skills, and no opportunities to acquire digital skills either.”

“By getting involved in the YES programme and joining hands with Entersekt, we saw an opportunity to speed up the process of getting our youth ready for this new world. And we are so thankful we did, because we are now seeing the tangible and immediate impact that collaboration has made. Five of the 18 youth who completed the YES programme found jobs, which proves that the digital skills that our YES youth have acquired have already made them more employable,” adds Simons.

Entersekt also facilitated orientation programmes for the youth to reinforce the importance of a good work ethic, says Arno Kemp, Senior HR Business Partner responsible for transformation and growth at Entersekt.

“We want to ensure that the youth’s introduction to the world of work is also a journey of support.”

“Working with MIDO helps us to make a difference in South African communities but also in the global workforce. We’ve been privileged to see many youth grow into confident men and women who are assured of the value they add to the economy. These youth are now equipped with key skills which can be used across the world,” says Kemp.

Throughout the 12 months, the youths’ monthly salary was paid by Entersekt, while the foundation  was responsible for ensuring that they acquire various digital skills and are able to apply those skills effectively. The 18 YES youth were placed at the Foundation’s Digital Hubs and other locations.

“We know that SMEs are crucial drivers of job creation, and through the B-BBEE level up benefit, they can become more competitive and in turn create more jobs as they grow. This first salary for a youth has far-reaching socio-economic impacts. About 88.4% of YES Youth come from social grant recipient households and 90.7% have dependants, so the monthly salary benefits more than just the individual youth, it permeates through families and even communities,” says Leanne Emery, Acting Co-CEO at YES.

A strong collaboration between the YES programme, corporate companies and small businesses have the ability to make a significant impact on youth unemployment statistics in South Africa.

“Our partnerships with business, both big and small, are not only essential to the success of the YES programme, but to the broader fight against youth unemployment, serving to co-create a more inclusive economy. These entities, through the YES platform, have injected R3.3 billion back into the economy directly through the payment of youth salaries and they do this without government assistance,” adds Emery.

YES programme graduate Chanay Jaftha started working as a teacher at Dig It Junior creche in Jamestown recently. Jaftha obtained a National Diploma in Educare from Boland College and was unemployed when she decided to apply for the YES programme.

“The YES programme allowed me to work in the field I had studied in and it was a great opportunity to also start my career,” says Jaftha.

She says she has not only learnt digital skills but other soft skills too.

“I’ve learnt to control my feelings better, especially when things are not going as planned. You just have to find a way to see pass the obstacle.”

Another YES programme graduate, Athene-Leigh Klink now works as a Hub Coordinator at Rusthof High, where she is responsible for managing the hub and various programmes.

“I signed up for the YES programme because it was a great opportunity and I was at home because I was taking a gap year. I was just sitting at home doing nothing,” she says.

“The programme actually helped me very much with my future career choice. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to become a teacher, but in the past few months, I realised it’s actually what I want to do because it’s not just about coming to work and teaching, it’s also about getting to know the learners and how each of them has a different style of doing their work. Some of them don’t have it easy, and most of them need the motivation to keep going.”

Adds Klink: “I never thought I would be able to stand in front of a class and speak to learners or communicate with a teacher the way I do now. Doing this programme helped me to become more confident and increased my passion for teaching.”

PHOTO 1: A collaboration between the MiDO Foundation and Entersekt, has led to five of the 18 youth to participate in the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme securing jobs. Amongst them are Chanay Jaftha (left), and Tamryn Samuels, who work at Dig It creche as a teacher and teaching assistant respectively. (Refiloe Raphasha)

PHOTO 2: Tamryn Samuels (left), and Chanay Jaftha, who work at Dig It creche as a teaching assistant and a teacher are busy helping learners in class. (Refiloe Raphasha)

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The MiDO Foundation is responsible for providing Google Level 1 training to schools that form part of the Remgro Schools Project. The Level 1 training focuses on learning how to use Google Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, and Slides effectively. Teachers also undergo mobile device training, which focuses on how to use WhatsApp safely to broadcast information and learning materials to learners, a skill that was particularly useful during lockdown and school closures. In addition, teachers are taught how to develop a website for their school using Google Sites and are provided with training to continue managing the site after the MiDO Foundation exits.

In October 2020, Remgro partnered with Siyavula Education, a technology company which focuses on “building an integrated learning experience, drawing on the benefits of open content and adaptive practice for mastery in Maths and Science”. Now the MiDO Foundation is assisting teachers and learners at Lückhoff High School to register on the site as well as teaching them how to use the online mathematics and physical science resources.

We sat down with Cheryl Farao, who is responsible for Corporate Social Investment: Community Projects at Remgro Limited, to find out why the company has been working with the MiDO Foundation since 2017.

Could you tell us how the partnership between Remgro Limited and the MiDO Foundation started?

Remgro Limited started working with the MiDO Foundation after having built a relationship with the non-profit through the Rupert Education Foundation. Dale Simons, the Managing Director of MiDO Technologies, and I sat down in 2017 to discuss how Remgro could bring the MiDO Foundation onboard as a partner for the Remgro Schools Project. Through this Stellenbosch-based initiative, Remgro is pursuing one of its core goals – to ensure that teachers at schools in this area are equipped with digital skills that they can use in the classroom to facilitate learning and to teach those same skills to learners.

The MiDO Foundation has a track record of successfully equipping teachers and learners with digital skills and ensuring they apply those skills in the teaching and learning environment. It was therefore easy to partner with them. The potential benefit that schools in the Stellenbosch area would derive from our partnership was immense.

What does the partnership entail?

Schools have different needs. Our partnership with the MiDO Foundation specifically focuses on empowering educators by teaching them digital skills and how to use technology effectively in the classroom, as well as drive the implementation of technology at their schools.

The training includes Google training level 1 and 2 as well as interactive whiteboard training and mobile device training to support technology integration in the classroom. It’s a flexible partnership that allows the MiDO Foundation to supply tailormade solutions to schools when a technological need arises.

What kind of investment is made in schools through this partnership?

Former partnerships with the MiDO Foundation indicated that teachers that participated in the digital skills development training were better able to use technology in the classroom to aid learning. Learners were able to use technology properly to search for and find educational resources and could also use those resources properly while having the know-how to stay safe online. After Remgro rolled out wifi in schools in the Stellenbosch area, the next natural step was to bring the MiDO Foundation onboard to implement their digital literacy programmes at schools across Stellenbosch to upskill teachers and learners with digital skills.

Remgro also has a close relationship with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and ICT training is a priority for them, specifically e-learning. Remgro wants to support the mandate of the WCED and can do that through our collaboration with the MiDO Foundation. MiDO has already added additional value by providing leadership development training for senior management teams at schools, assisting these schools in drafting ICT business plans, and creating websites and training teachers on how to manage those websites.

What does Remgro hope to achieve through the partnership with the MiDO Foundation in the next five years?

The long-term dream is to empower our learners through technology. Our partnership with the MiDO Foundation gives teachers and learners at local schools a unique opportunity to broaden their educational development by acquiring digital skills and becoming digitally literate by using technology. We are working with schools that are under-resourced, and our goal is for teachers and learners from those schools to have the same opportunities as a teacher and learner from a well-resourced school would have.  So, this is an opportunity to level the playing field in education. One of the things that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed in the spotlight again is the massive digital divide amongst under-resourced and well-resourced schools. We believe that we can use technology to provide learners with the digital skills they need to function in the world now. This pandemic has truly highlighted the value that the MiDO Foundation adds as teachers had to quickly adapt to online teaching and adopt technology to do that.

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It’s statistics like these that drives the MiDO Foundation’s resolve to bring hope to unemployed youth by equipping them with digital skills to make them employable. Now they’ve partnered with the global fintech company, Entersekt, to make an impact on an even bigger scale through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.

“Our purpose at MiDO is to equip disadvantaged youth with essential digital skills required to find employment today while also helping them find their passion and purpose by creating spaces and opportunities for them to thrive. We create these spaces through the Digital Technology Hubs that we have built at schools across the Western Cape. Now, our collaboration with Entersekt creates opportunities for us to employ interns and place them in Hubs as assistant Hub Coordinators through the YES programme. This partnership will allow us to empower many young people who are facing difficulties in finding employment,” says Dale Simons, Founder and Managing Director of MiDO Technologies.

MiDO has been upskilling unemployed youth since 2017 and started the Digital Citizenship Programme in 2020. The programme provides youth from lower-income communities with opportunities to apply for internships todevelop technical skills required in the ICT sector through a mentorship and industry-based 12-month paid internship each year.

According to Arno Kemp, Senior HRBP: Transformation and Growth at Entersekt, it made sense for the global fintech company to expand its partnership with the MiDO Foundation by including the business in their participation in the YES programme.

“The YES programme is a 12-month quality work experience programme that equips unemployed youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with a toolkit to be a beacon of hope for their families, households and communities. At the end of their internship, they have a CV and reference letter which will give them a three times greater chance of an interview call-back,” says Kemp.

To date, 18 interns have been placed at MiDO’s hubs and other locations. Entersekt has also facilitated orientation programmes for the interns to reinforce the importance of a good work ethic and to ensure, says Kemp, “that the interns’ introduction to the world of work is also a journey of support”.

Government and corporate partnerships like the YES programme, says Simons, are essential in helping to combat youth unemployment and to the country’s long-term economic development.

“We share the same drive for creating value and making a difference in the lives of youth who do not have access to this sort of education or opportunities for employment in a country where overall unemployment has now breached 30%,” adds Kemp.

“We believe that MiDO has the leadership and infrastructure in place to enable a long-term partnership of mutual growth, where we can add measurable value to the community.”

Entersekt and MiDO have been working together since June 2017 when Entersekt first invested in a number of corporate social investment initiatives that would benefit youth and learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in the greater Jamestown area and beyond.

These joint initiatives included establishing a digital hub at Stellenzicht Secondary School and making available further funding for the implementation of digital literacy programmes in the hub. Learners are able to visit the hub to develop their digital and IT skills under the supervision of a Digital Hub Coordinator, whose monthly stipend is sponsored by Entersekt. The digital hub is fitted with wireless internet access and devices to give young people the best opportunity to have access to equipment and information.

MiDO’s involvement with the YES programme has already made an impact on some of the participating youth who were unable to find employment due to a lack of work experience.      Courtney Slade, a YES Programme intern at MiDO, previously struggled to find employment because she lacked work experience. “No one wants to hire someone without experience, so the internship gives me the opportunity to put something on my CV,” says Slade. “The programme also builds our confidence, our knowledge and gives us the skills we need to get a job after the internship.”

By developing the youth, MiDO has helped many young people find their sense of purpose.

Athene Klink, who resides in Strand, is another YES intern based at MiDO. Initially she wanted to study hospitality, but was unable to do so due to financial circumstances. While working at MiDO, she discovered a passion for education.

“I have always wanted to become a teacher but wasn’t comfortable speaking in front of others. This programme has given me more confidence. I would like to pursue a career in education after this.”

Simons hopes to see more businesses, in particular in Stellenbosch, get involved with the YES programme and partner with smaller businesses to provide the youth with work experience.

“Let’s give our youth, who have no or limited access to opportunities to improve their digital skills, a solid chance to gain those skills to enter employment and make a contribution to building the economy of our country. Let’s give them the best opportunity to create a prosperous future for themselves and their communities.”

Main photo: Here are some of our YES interns with Daniel Solomons (back, far left), Executive Director of MiDO Foundation, and Arno Kemp (back, far right), Senior HRBP: Transformation and Growth at Entersekt.

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