“Science, technology and innovation are key drivers for the economic development of any continent,” noted Mohamed Belhocine, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the African Union in his opening address to Science and Innovation: Tackling the Unemployment Dilemma on Africa Day, 25 May 2022.
He was discussing the importance of investing in human capital development to ensure that higher education and training institutions can produce the next cohort of African scientists and engineers. But in Africa, more specifically South Africa, the majority of our young learners are not encouraged, guided or set up to embrace these key subjects. Many schools lack the basic foundations to set up our future workforce with critical skills. These skills require a commitment in maths, science and computer literacy from our learners.
“South Africans need to come together to build our future – and it starts with the schools,” says Co-Founder and Director of Turn Left Media John Bowles. “It can be done. It IS being done. We need to set up our kids with real knowledge that they can take into the future. There are many disadvantaged schools crammed with kids that need our help. It just takes a collaboration between business and the entities that know how to set them up, and of course the support from local government.”
He points to the SAME Foundation, which focuses on improving maths, science and computer skills in disadvantaged communities by equipping high-tech classrooms as well as computer and science labs.
Equipping the future at Fezeka High School
One example of SAME’s high-impact approach is their programme at Fezeka High School in Gugulethu, Cape Town. It is a no-fee school, striving to offer quality teaching and learning to 1 363 pupils from grade 8 to 12.
“SAME Foundation saw an opportunity to create a massive impact in the lives of these learners. With our partners, we hope to help the children and upskill their teachers so that they can all reach their full potential in a safe, learning-conducive environment,” says the Foundation’s CEO Trevor Pols.
The project commenced in February 2022 and all renovation work was successfully completed in April 2022. The classroom with its interactive teacher boards opened on the 22nd June 2022, and gives educators and learners access to a multitude of resources. (All teachers received training in how to use the technology provided.)
SAME Foundation provides the school with one calendar year of maintenance and support for the classroom; thereafter, the Western Cape Education Department takes full responsibility for the upkeep of the classroom and technology.
“The project has already shown positive results,” says Pols. “The computer room is used daily by excited learners who are growing in self-belief and confidence. It has been observed that the educators at Fezeka are extremely passionate about their school and about providing their learners with quality education. SAME will therefore also be adding Fezeka to its list of schools that will receive a new science lab this year.”
Pols confirms that Turn Left Media’s ongoing donations have helped SAME to completely renovate and equip the state-of-the-art computer room and wireless connected classroom at Fezeka High School as well as other schools across the country, and Bowles is looking forward to seeing future maths whizzes, computer scientists and engineers graduating from Fezeka High School: “There is absolutely no reason why the next LinkedIn, Billion USD tech start up or Musk can’t be re-created in Africa,” he says. “But business needs to take an active role in creating impact.”
Picking a partner
Bowles understands the concerns around investing large sums of money in corporate social responsibility initiatives: “As a business owner, you want to be sure that your contribution will be invested properly and with success,” he says. To those wishing to make a difference and looking for a partner to support, he recommends the following:
“Find an entity that is making a real difference and creating economic opportunity in a space that you believe in,
Investigate and research their track record and model, and talk to previous donors about their reliability,
Then, when you’ve made your decision, stick with them for the long run, visit the projects and ask the questions – we’ve partnered with SAME Foundation for over five years. Continuity and knowing that we will support them allows them to focus on what they do best – creating a successful long term future for our kids and our country.”
