Fifteen board members from Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Argentina arrived to meet with the organisation’s local leadership and celebrate ORT’s work in South Africa. The local branch of this venerable organisation runs projects in teacher empowerment, new venture creation and enterprise, and skills development in some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to visit South Africa,” said World ORT chairperson Dr Jean de Gunzburg.
“The pride of ORT all over the world is that its graduates [children, youth and adults] are taught skills specifically for the present-day job requirements. Agriculture and trades were taught by ORT a hundred years ago and today robotics, bio-technology and other new innovative skills are taught.”
Participants were treated to a demonstration of ORT’s work in South Africa’s schools when two Grade 7 pupils of Ikage Primary School, Alexandra, performed a dialogue about how ORT helped them improve their marks. Ikage Primary is one school in which ORT runs its successful teacher empowerment programme, providing classroom-based support in maths and science.
During the course of their visit, the World ORT committee members visited two more schools in Alexandra, where they were treated to a demonstration of mathematical skills by Grade 1 pupils.
Naomi Xashimba, an Alexandra teacher of 35 years said, “Besides the weekly training of teachers, if we have a problem we just call the ORT SA team and they come out immediately to assist. The laptops that we received through Bidvest were the best thing to happen to us.”
ORT South Africa chief executive officer Ariellah Rosenberg, meanwhile, explained the value of ORT’s international cooperation.
“World ORT is one of the largest NGOs globally in skills and vocational training, and a leader in high-tech education and training. The interest they have shown in ORT SA bodes well for our future expansion and potential collaboration with corporates and governments,” she said.
