Nadine Farao, Stakeholder Relations Manager at the MiDO Foundation (far right), joins some of the YES graduates in celebrating their success.

The local non-governmental organisation, the MiDO Foundation, and Entersekt, a global fintech company based in Stellenbosch, have once again combined their efforts to help another 10 young, unemployed adults soar with the opportunity to complete a 12-month mentorship and information, communications and technology industry-based paid internship through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.

YES beneficiaries obtain digital skills and digital citizenship skills through the foundation’s Digital Citizenship Programme. Some of the soft skills they acquire through digital citizenship skills training include communication skills, access, digital literacy, etiquette, and rights and responsibilities.

One of those youth to complete the programme and obtain immediate employment is Kaylan Gideons who lives in The Ridge in Idas Valley, Stellenbosch, and started working as a receptionist at the law firm Smiths and Associates in Stellenbosch.

“I started studying Human Resources at CTU Stellenbosch two years ago and after completing the course, I started looking for work, but everywhere I applied, I was told that I did not have the necessary work experience to be considered for the job. I had only completed two weeks of practical training in human resources during my studies,” explains Gideons.

While looking for work, Gideons met Michelle Swartland, Senior Project Administrator at the MiDO Foundation, who encouraged her to apply for the upcoming YES programme. Gideons applied and was accepted into the programme. During the 12 months, she worked as a receptionist at Acu-Temp where she was responsible for taking calls, dealing with queries, issuing quotes and invoices, and ensuring that administrative systems were put in place at the small business.

“I was really excited about working at Acu-Temp and it was a huge learning opportunity for me. I got so much experience while working here and was able to put the knowledge I acquired while completing the YES programme to use, and for the first time use some of the skills I learnt through my course at CTU at Acu-Temp.”

“It helped me to also create a good filing system for the business.”

Acu-Temp specialises in providing temperature-controlled monitoring instruments from local and overseas suppliers and performs calibration, repairs, and support services in the cold chain industry.

According to Nadine Farao, Stakeholder Relations Manager at the MiDO Foundation, the foundation believes in not only empowering unemployed youth through the YES programme, but small businesses as well.

“Interventions should not only be focused on one aspect of a challenge, in this case youth unemployment, but rather, where possible, respond to various challenges in our society. This is a philosophy that we believe in, as strongly as we believe in forming partnerships with various organisations.”

To this end, the foundation has not only worked with Entersekt, but organisations like the Stellenbosch Network and the Ranyaka as well as the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch.

“We want to ensure that SMMEs in need of employees with digital skills and other soft skills needed for administrative and financial tasks can also benefit from the foundation and Entersekt’s collaboration, and the YES programme. We are therefore increasing employment while capacitating SMMEs that are considered the engines of our economy due to the sector’s potential to create jobs.”

Gideons explains that when she first started working at Acu-Temp, she “made lots of notes on how to improve some processes”, handled the company’s payroll, and accounts.

“It was hard work, because I had to manage it all, but I was able to cope because I would plan my tasks for the day each day,” said Gideons.

She also learnt a lot about good time management and organisation skills at Acu-Temp and the Director of the company, Garnet Christians, she said, allowed her to also participate in business management training offered at the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch, where the business’ office is based.

“This programme and the internship at Acu-Temp meant so much to me because there was a time in my life when I thought I would never get work. I had a diploma, but no work experience, so when I heard about the MiDO Foundation and this programme, I felt that there were people who would help me. I had a lot of hope, but it was the foundation that opened many doors for me.”

According to Gideons, the programme helped her to improve her confidence as a person, but also in the workplace. When she went for her interview at Smith and Associates, she felt a lot calmer and was well-prepared for the questions she was asked.

The interview panel was so impressed with Gideons, that when she finished her interview, they asked her how soon she could begin.

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.

“This is our third group of YES graduates to have been sponsored and mentored by Entersekt and trained by the MiDO Foundation since 2020. We are super excited that five of the third group of graduates are now in permanent employment,” said Farao.

Of the 10 graduates who have completed the YES programme since 2020, five have found permanent employment during and straight after they completed the programme.

“The unemployment rate in South Africa is frighteningly high, with 46.5% of the youth between the ages of 15 to 34 without work. For many, a lack of digital skills further hinders their ability to compete with other job seekers for a limited number of jobs,” says Farao.

“The world we live in today require all of us to have digital skills. Just using our phone app to do our banking requires some digital literacy skills, and in the workplace, employers are not only looking for applicants with digital skills knowledge at more senior levels, but also at entry-level. Even a till operator needs to have digital skills to know how to void items or do exchanges.”

Adds Sheldon Bergstedt, Operations Manager at the foundation: “In the time of the 3rd industrial revolution, which is also referred to as the Digital Revolution, electronics and information technology came to play a big role in the workplace and society and led to the automation of production. As we find ourselves in the 4th industrial revolution, the use and application of digital skills and knowledge of digital citizenship are essential to ensuring that individuals can function in this new era and are not left behind. Our mission at the foundation is rooted in the upliftment of the youth and the rectification of previous injustices.”

“We believe that upskilling our unemployed youth is important not only to improve the employability of South Africans, but because we cannot afford the economic impact that a continued increase in youth unemployment will have on South Africa, the devastating impact of unemployment on an individual’s mental health and self-esteem, and worsening poverty, and crime,” says Farao.

Dario Minnaar, Customer Relationship Technician, at MiDO Technologies started off the YES 3 program in August 2021 where he worked as an IT Technical Support Intern at MiDO Foundation. Minnaar has obtained 2 National qualifications and 1 International qualification at CTU Training Solutions Stellenbosch.

“The 2 National Qualifications are IT Technical Support and IT Cloud Administrator MCSA and the International qualification is Comptia A+ 220-1001 and 1002,” says Minnaar.

“I can’t thank Entersekt and MiDO Foundation enough for the opportunity because I could get to learn at the Technological level. I had the opportunity to work in a technological environment and to be able to gain practical experience in the time of Covid.”

Minnaar’s skills were so impressive that he was appointed as a full-time Customer Relationship Technician at MiDO Technologies 3 months before his internship ended which created an opportunity for another eager individual, Shanice Theunissen to take his place and finish the remaining period of the YES programme.

“The programme was so helpful, and I am happy I get to remain at the school I teach at. I’ve learned many new skills in communication and planning. If it wasn’t for the program, I don’t know where I would be today”, says Amber Olivier, who completed the programme with Gideons and currently works as a teacher at Dig-It Junior in Jamestown.

“Working with babies between the ages of 6 and 18 months require much planning, communication and focus – all the skills that the YES programme offered,” said Olivier.

“I couldn’t be prouder to have been a part of such an enriching experience, where young people get the opportunity to enhance their practical skills.”

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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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Feleni’s research focuses on tuneable nanocomposite chalcogenide materials and their application in the development of sensors for biomedical and environmental analyses. She is a member of some of the most prestigious national and international organisations in the world focused on the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This includes serving as an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (AMRSC), a member of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS), a full member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), and a member of the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE). In 2021, she was awarded the 2021/2022 University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) Fellowship, and in the past has also received the 2016 L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Doctoral Fellowship Award and the 2016 South African Women in Science TATA Doctoral Fellowship Award.

Feleni is a first-generation student and says that her family found it “very difficult to accept that it was appropriate for a girl to spend so many years studying up to the PhD level”.

“But my mother, a primary school teacher, told me about the importance of science.”

In January 2018 , Feleni received a DSI-NRF Innovation Doctoral Scholarship and a DSI-NRF-DHET Scarce Skills Development Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship for her PhD and postdoctoral studies respectively. 

“Without the NRF scholarship, I would not have been able to continue my studies to PhD level.  I obtained an NRF Travel Grant award which enabled me to attend an international conference during my PhD studies and this year received a NRF-South Africa Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) grant for a community engagement STEM project in the Eastern Cape.”

We sat down with Feleni to learn about her inspirational journey of building a career in science as a woman. 

Dr Feleni, how did your love for science and technology begin?

My love for science started while  solving problems associated with healthcare since I lost a family member who was on antiretroviral (ARV) medication.   So I studied BSc Chemical Sciences up to PhD level. 

What were some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in the STEM field and how did  you overcome them?

There are notions by some people that women  are not capable of studying up to PhD level, such as the expectation to get married after completing undergraduate studies.  This is why women scientists work hard and often do extra work to achieve our goals and to prove our point that women can achieve anything and be scientists. One of the things that I do to ensure that I succeeded is to put a lot of efforts in teaching and learning and research. What do I mean by that, these are the core important things that will make one succeed (research include attainment of research grant, publishing and fellowships). Most importantly focusing on research that will solve the South African problems/global problems. 

Do you think it is important to develop and equip learners with skills for STEM fields and why?

It is important to   motivate young learners and students to go into STEM fields. The government is implementing a National System of Innovation (NSI) while  the National Development Plan (NDP) aims at solving socioeconomic issues and creating jobs for the younger generation. Basically equipping youth with skills. Technology can be used to create jobs for young scientists, including South African scientists as a whole. Nurturing junior researchers is therefore imperative at university level.

What is the status of inequality in South Africa and how can it be solved specifically during the pandemic? 

Community development and upliftment in communities like townships can happen through strengthening education curricula. Under-resourced village and township schools prevent learners from gaining practical experience, leading to an educational gap of understanding how research development happens among learners who want to enter STEM fields. One way  to improve education is to involve educational and community leaders when discussing curriculum improvements, especially in provinces such as the Eastern Cape.  I work with the Applied Electrochemistry Thematic Area and under my leadership we are opening the Cofivamba Science Centre exhibit, which focuses on developing technology, equipping learners and teachers while incorporating science into the curriculum.  It is aimed at grades 8 to 12 and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. I also presented an online seminar for the National Science Week, but most learners could not join given a lack of access to online streaming platforms. So, we must understand the realities of  learners and  equip teachers with skills to increase access to resources and technology. Platforms such as Zoom could be used to effectively boost access at rural and township schools. Additionally we need to purchase furniture, laptops and improve connectivity so that affected schools can develop.  

What role do you think the NDP has in developing a younger generation of women in STEM fields?

We are aiming at meeting the agenda for the NDP by  2030.  Given that we are moving toward the fourth industrial revolution, it is important to scale technological innovative research methods to enhance science for young women. It is important to have developed young scientists and researchers by 2030 so that by 2063 we have unleashed the potential of female scientists and junior researchers leading in that area.

Lastly, what words of encouragement do you have for  young people, and particularly young women, who want to enter STEM fields?

To  young women who do science subjects, ensure that you obtain  good marks in subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Science and Biology in order to gain university entrance. High  marks in high school will allow learners to study any degree in a STEM field. Using the Sustainable Development Goals  while focusing on national problems in South Africa will allow us to find innovative solutions that will assist the country. By having more young women obtaining undergraduate degrees, more will gain access to postgraduate studies, which will help our country overcome major inequalities, and young women will play a key role in that recovery.

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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 Corporate Social Investment Department at Remgro Limited and the MiDO Foundation have collaborated over the last five years through the Remgro Schools Project to teach teachers from under-resourced schools in Stellenbosch how to use technology in the classroom and for administrative tasks. Thus far, teachers at 10 schools in Stellenbosch have undergone the training.

As part of the partnership, the MiDO Foundation is responsible for providing Google Level 1 training for 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. The teachers also underwent mobile device training, which focuses on how to use WhatsApp safely to broadcast information and learning materials to learners during lockdown and school closures and has proved very useful in helping teachers continue with some teaching and learning in spite of social distancing. In addition, teachers were also taught how to develop a website for their school using Google Sites and were provided with training to continue managing the site after the MiDO Foundation exited.

According to Deputy Principal Anton Gordon at IVP, teachers were “really impressed with the training they received from MiDO”.

Gordon has been teaching for almost 33 years, of which 28 years has been spent at IVP.

“Most of our teachers are computer literate, meaning that they can use computers, but MiDO taught us how to Google properly and how to conduct meetings online, because nowadays we can’t ask all the teachers to gather in one room, we need to do it online.”

The school has a computer laboratory with 45 computers that are being used by Grades 1 to 6 learners.

“Because our school benefited from this type of training, we can carry those skills over to our children and our community. Our community seems to miss out on learning these types of skills and it is therefore very difficult for them to work online. So, what our school did this year, was to  open up our computer laboratory for any person who has children at Idas Valley Primary and does not have wifi or a computer to come to the school and use our resources. And we were able to help them apply online for their children to go to high school for example. So we have shared with them the knowledge we have learnt from MiDO,” says Gordon.

Teachers were also taught how to build a website for the school using Google Sites and how to maintain the website after the MiDO Foundation exited.

“Most of the school teachers at our school are young and under 30 years, so in future they will be apply this knowledge when teaching the younger generation.”

Gordon has also been impressed by the interns from the Youth Employment Services (YES) programme who are completing a 12-month paid internship at the MiDO Foundation and has been working as a teachers’ assistants helping with administrative and ad hoc tasks at the school amongst others.

“I would recommend MiDO’s training to any school, person or institution. They are doing monumental work. And, I believe the training offered by MiDO is the way forward, because everything in the world is about technology now.”

“I am also grateful to Remgro for making this training possible and want to plead to them to keep up the good work by supporting more schools.”

Added Nadine Farao, Sales and Marketing Manager at MiDO Technologies: “The foundation would like to extend the training that we’ve offered to Idas Valley Primary School by establishing a digital hub at the school, where teachers will not only be able to apply and improve their digital skills, but also become more confident in integrating technology in the classroom. The hub will also provide learners with an opportunity to become digitally skilled and use the resources available to them online to search for and access opportunities.”

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The MiDO Foundation’s purpose is to empower youth to take control of their future by equipping them with digital skills such as digital communication, access, literacy, etiquette, and rights and responsibilities through its Digital Citizenship Programme. The programme provides youth from lower-income communities with opportunities to develop technical skills required in the ICT sector through a mentorship and the internship.

In 2017 MiDO partnered with global fintech company Entersekt to make an impact on an even bigger scale through the YES programme. 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.

The MiDO Foundation’s work focuses on forming partnerships and collaborations with various stakeholders to achieve the shared goal of changing lives through technology. MiDO’s collaborative effort with Entersekt through the YES programme has improved the employability of YES interns in many fields – especially since digital skills and literacy are vital job requirements in the fourth industrial revolution.

One of the YES interns that have secured employment during his internship is Keith Adams. Midway through his time at MiDO, Kyle was appointed as a Senior Technical Client Support Agent at a company focusing on mobile technology solutions for the medical and education sectors.

Adams, who is from Stellenbosch, was unemployed with minimal skills when he joined the programme. We sat down with him to speak about his experience at MiDO and how it led him to a permanent job.

Did the YES internship  experience at MiDO help you to find permanent employment?

My experience as a YES intern at MiDO’s digital hub helped me secure permanent employment because the technological skills required by my current job aligned with what I learnt at MiDO. At MiDO and at my current job, I have learnt how to enrich lives through education with technology. The MiDO Foundation gave me the opportunity to digitally express myself while learning new digital skills.

What job related skills did you have after participating in the YES internship? 

I had prior work experience in other sectors, but MiDO taught me valuable computer skills that have complemented my other skill sets significantly. One of the skills I learnt at MiDO that has been particularly valuable in my current career is learning how to work with Google Suite and utilising  Google services as an educational tool. In my current job we use Google in our daily tasks.

What was your overall experience while working at MiDO?

My experience at MiDO was absolutely fabulous. The organisation allowed me to bring new ideas to the table, which made me feel valued as an intern. I received incredible support throughout my journey at MiDO and am forever thankful for the opportunity to learn and gain valuable skills. The MiDO Foundation has also taught me to embrace the learning process as it brings personal growth, which adds value to my career.

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