The Melisizwe project was founded in 2012. The word Melisizwe means “leader of the nation” It was founded to address the inequalities within the education system.
According to Candice Kern-Thomas, who is the founder of the project, over 70 per cent of schools within South Africa do not have access to a computer lab, this means that educators are unable to teach the subject Computer Applications Technology which is simply known as CAT.
As a result, matriculants who matriculate from these schools are unable to have computer literacy skills, which is a very important requirement not only at colleges and universities but in the workplace as well.
The initiative is for underprivileged communities and seeks schools that need computer facilities.
Not only do they supply schools with computers, but they install the computers and renovate the classrooms in which the computers are installed.
Lesley Adams, a history teacher at Lancea Vale Secondary School confirmed that the Melisizwe project benefited the school in multiple ways.
“Firstly for our students, it gives them an opportunity to have access to a computer and more importantly a computer lab.
“This is a resource that wasn’t readily available to the school before. It makes teachers’ lives easier as well.
“We can now better implement the work for students because we can do research and we can also change our teaching methods, not only be sticking to the chalk and board or textbook approach.
“We can actually show learners real time examples of the work. We view this as an opportunity that will help our learners, educators and the entire community,” said Adams.
Hailey Klaassen, from the school’s Representative Council of Learners, said, ” I think it will benefit us in a good way, it will give the school and especially matriculants a good headstart when they finish school because many of them do not know what they want to do with their lives. It will open more doors for them. They can easily apply for bursaries now,” she said.
Dave Hartzenburg from the School Governing Body has been a part of Lancea Vale Secondary School for the past 15 years and feels very privileged to be a part of what he calls a celebration.
“This initiative can only prove to be fruitful and advantageous for our learners. Thinking back about 30 years ago, we have come a very long way,” he said.
The goal for the Melisizwe project is to increase the number of schools and learners that have access to computers.
“We are seeing wonderful results from the project. Learners have been able to find work in the IT industry and some have managed to start their own businesses,” said Kern-Thomas.
Melisizwe plans to expand the project and wants to reach as many schools and learners as possible within the next 12 months.
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