Toekies launches its own coding, robotics programme with Lego
A new and exciting coding and robotics programme has been launched in Toekomsrus. It is said to be the only one on the West Rand and supported by international company Lego.
Toekies now has its very own coding and robotics programme to improve the skills of children in the area.
The programme was established in May last year and is the only one on the West Rand. It is supported by international company Lego, which is a line of plastic construction toys manufactured by The Lego Group based in Billund, Denmark.
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Coordinator and Manager of the programme, Oscar Oliphant, said the programme is exciting and offers young people a lot. He added that they get all their equipment including their robotic pieces and laptops from the international company which is fully funded by them.
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The programme is also supported by the University of South Africa (UNISA) which oversees the programme and offers training.
They are based at the Emmanuel New Life Centre which is a church in Toekomsrus and learners can become part of the programme free of charge.
“The programme is not only about the building and programming and coding of robots but it also has an element in the curriculum that specifically speaks to core values like leadership, tolerance, patience, innovation, time keeping and so on. These are the values that they can carry with them in school and through their lives as well,” said Oscar, who added that the programme is also quite valuable in the science, technology, engineering and maths landscape.
Oscar added it also helps in building confidence and has led to a lot of young people, who were once shy, to come out of their shells and be more innovative.
With just over seven months in existence the group has already taken on another robotics group, the Eldorado Park Robotics and Coding programme.
He said they were hosted by the Eldos group on January 7 this year in Eldorado Park.
“It was a beautiful day for our children. We set up our equipment and models and we then took them on. We were also accompanied by some of the parents who got to see at first-hand what their children are capable of,” Oscar said.
