~ by Nomusa Keninda
Mpumalanga ICT Club hosted one of the powerful event in town called DigiGirlz and Scratch Day on the 12 May 2018, at Nkangala Tvet College, Witbank Campus. Grade 9 girls from Zacheus Malaza, TP Sililo, Ilanga, Sibukosethu, Nkonjane, Tshwenyane Schools Witbank Campus IT faculty including the Roman Catholic Church youth attended the event.
DigiGirlz aimed at motivating young girls into IT careers and hands on experience into Computer Science popular known as Coding.The girls were fortune to interact with Microsoft employees, getting to know where they come from, what studies they went through and what are the requirement for the courses, their day to day work at Microsoft South Africa.
“Township schools and poor background must not define your future destiny but your academic achievements especially in Mathematics and Sciences can make you rise above all” said Ms Khutso Malungane
during the motivational session. She actually came from a remote, dusty village in Limpopo and works for Microsoft South Africa. The girls also interacted with Ms Londiwe Mdluli, age 23 from Microsoft South Africa also from Limpopo province and Maudi Ramaboea.
The girls showered our guests with poetry, dance and songs. SchoolnetSA was represented by Megan Rademeyer who actually made this event a success. “ Thank you, you are wonderful, shine followed by thunder of applause “ – thats how the guests and presenters were applauded.
“We actually wanted to see all schools in the Nkangala District and beyond participating in DigiGirlz and Scratch events but we have limited resources” said Ms Nomusa Keninda
who is the founder of Mpumalanga ICT Club and an ELearning Specialist, also a Microsoft Innovation Educator Expert (MIEExpert)
“Girls who are exposed to IT careers and role models are likely to take up STEM subjects” alluded Megan.
This event was indeed a powerful idea and we are looking forward to hosting more. The girls were afforded an opportunity to learn Coding on the Hour of Code platform and Scratch. It was a busy day for Nomusa Keninda and her team of volunteers helping girls to Code while others from Witbank Campus hospitality studies were preparing food for the girls.
Thank very much to Vuyokazi, chef leader at Witbank TVET campus.
