EDWIN NAIDU

Matric 2023 pupil Samara Chinnapen from The King’s School in Robin Hills in Randburg reflects on her recently completed matric dance achieved on a budget of less than R1 000. She was taken to the event in a vehicle, which costs R2.75 million.  

Accompanied by handsome chaperone, Bjorn Mhlanga, the stunning Samara, 18, was the belle of the ball.

Daughter of Enver and Linda Chinnapen, Samara told Inside Education all about her matric dance and future plans.

What was the experience like?

It was nothing as I’d expected a matric dance to be. The event had both positive and negative aspects. The downside of the whole experience was the planning, money, and stress of making sure that you had to look good on the night. This was a feeling shared by many other learners. All of this stress is definitely not worth it as you are wearing an outfit for one night, and you are most probably not going to be using it in the future. Although this night shared its negative aspects, it also shared a few positives, like creating memories with the people you’ve been with daily for your whole high school career. Although you may not see them after school, it is a great experience that you will be able to look back on.

How much did the dress cost?

I purchased a dress online as it would be more cost-effective since I’d only use it once. It cost R825. Purchasing or making a dress is based on an individual’s preference and how much they are willing to spend on a dress. My sister Kaylene helped me glamour up for the night without any fuss.

What about the wheels for the night?

Luckily for me, my cousin organised a fantastic car for me. The Mercedes Benz EQS SUV 450. It was a one-of-a-kind car that many people were fascinated by. For me, the car took all my focus as I share a love for them. I do understand the whole entrance with the cars as it is a time to show off and it’s one day of your life.

Was it an experience that it was all cut out to be?

It could’ve been a better experience based on all the stress and preparation that went into it. I felt that the night was overhyped and could’ve been better planned.

Has it distracted you from examinations?

It hasn’t distracted me from my exams as I only began preparing for the dance two weeks before the event.

What did you do after the ball?

I went home after the matric dance and chilled with my parents.

Are you ready for exams?

Yes, I am as it is the last push of my final schooling career, so I want to go out with my best.

What do you want to do next year?

I would like to study animation at the SAE Institute or graphic design at the University of the Witwatersrand.

INSIDE EDUCATION

Inside Education Correspondent

THE Covid-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund (CARGF) Reflection and Foresight Convening and the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative (ORTARChI) Annual Gathering, both monumental meetings that the National Research Foundation (NRF) hosted last week, were a major success in terms of their set objectives. 

The meetings were called to celebrate and showcase the CARGF and ORTARChI initiatives, and provide a space for peer-learning, networking, and the exploration of avenues of collaboration among the participants, the majority of whom are stakeholders in Africa’s science ecosystem. These included both researchers and the participating councils of the Science Granting Councils Initiative in sub-Saharan Africa (SGCI).

CARGF and ORTARChI are two significant multilateral research funding partnerships that the NRF has administered under the auspices of the SGCI since 2020 and 2018 respectively. As a multi-funder and multi-stakeholder initiative, the SGCI partners with public funders of research in 17 African countries to support capacity strengthening with the aim of contributing to research and evidence-based policies for economic and social development.

In his opening address, NRF Chief Executive Officer, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, said the NRF was delighted to host the gatherings. He stressed that CARGF demonstrated that establishing partnerships across Africa and the world was key.

“Africa’s science community managed to put up CARGF together within a short period following the coronavirus outbreak because partnerships were already established. Partnership is a key word here because it is all about us knowing that we cannot do what we want to do on the continent if we work alone. 

“It’s a question of how we work as a collective team across Africa to ensure that we achieve what probably has not been achieved before,” Dr Nelwamondo added. 

Dr Gugu Moche, Acting Deputy CEO: RIISA, chaired the opening session. She pointed out that the CARGF gathering was an important opportunity to reflect on what was achieved, thereby preparing Africa’s scientists for the next pandemics. 

“As we engage, there are three fundamental questions that we should be answering: what are we doing, why are we doing it and what do we learn from implementation. If you look at those, they speak to the reasons behind our engagements, they speak to our reason for pursuing long-term partnerships, and they speak to whether we are getting the results we thought we would.”

CARGF and ORTARChI were established to fulfil a variety of roles for the benefit of Africa’s science system. Established in May 2020 to support Africa’s response to COVID-19, CARGF funded 73 projects across three strands, i.e. research, science communication and science advice, in 50 institutions from 16 African countries. 

The CARGF was supported by the NRF and the DSI; Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Fonds de Recherché du Québec (FRQ); the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Newton Fund; and SGCI participating councils.

ORTARChI, on the other hand, was established to contribute to the expansion of research and innovation capacities in and for Africa, in alignment with African Union Agenda 2063 and Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024); to contribute to Africa’s global research competitiveness while responding to the continent’s socio-economic needs; and to contribute to Africa’s career pathways for young and mid-career researchers, with a strong research, innovation and human capital development output trajectory.

Ten O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs have been awarded across seven countries, namely Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia since its launch. The NRF and DSI, together with the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation (OATF), IDRC and SGCI participating councils have partnered to implement the initiative.

Importantly, the initiative honours and promotes the legacy of O.R. Tambo, emulating his values of professional excellence, integrity, inclusiveness, honesty, humility, and respect for human dignity. The late Oliver Tambo is recognised for his lifelong dedication to the struggle against apartheid. He criss-crossed Africa and the world as a longtime leader of the African National Congress in pursuit of freedom and equality. ORTARChI recognises Mr Tambo’s science background.

INSIDE EDUCATION

SIYA KOLISI

Which school did you attend?
I attended Emsengeni Primary School briefly in 2003.

Who was your favourite teacher?
My favourite teacher (Mr Eric Songwiqi) stood by me during my schooling years. He was more than just a teacher; he was a mentor, a support system. He moved me from one township school to another and was always there for me whenever I needed him. He even played the role of a father figure in my life. He took me to every sports trial and always encouraged me.

What subject did he teach?
He didn’t really teach me a specific subject per se. He supported my rugby development. He was there as a guiding figure, mentoring me through my life and my schooling years.

Did you look forward to your sessions with him?

Absolutely, I looked forward to every training session with him. He always had words of encouragement for us, it was about something other than a subject in a classroom. He gave lots of practical life advice.

What was he like?
He was always kind, loving, and supportive, and he went out of his way to make sure I had what I needed. But he also knew when to be firm and when discipline was needed. He was everything that I needed.

What was your favourite subject at school?
My favourite subject at school was maths. I was actually one of the top students in the class for that subject until I moved to Grey High School

Did your love for the game influence your career choice?
My passion for rugby influenced my choice of career. That being said, I struggled later with maths in school. I do wish I had focused a little bit more in school and persevered with my academics because I believe that would add more value to what I do after rugby as well.

What phrase from your teacher stuck with you?
The phrase that stuck with me was, “Believe in your dreams, work as hard as you can, and protect them with everything you have.” This was told to me by Mr Songwiqi and has stayed with me throughout my life.

Have you remained in contact with your teacher?
Yes, I have kept in touch with him. We even spoke recently about him, and I am working together to help more kids from the community I grew up in the same way he helped me.

Have you met since your school days?
The first meeting with him, outside of a classroom setting, always gets me emotional. We’ve done a lot together and seeing him still brings up many emotions. He’s a special person in my life.

Describe the influence of teachers on society.
Teachers are incredibly important to society. They spend the most time with kids and have a significant influence on them. They can provide positive encouragement and energy that a child might not be getting at home. I know teachers often don’t get the credit they deserve, but they play a massive role in giving kids hope and support.

What advice would you give youngsters wanting to be a success?
My advice to anyone wanting to reach for and achieve their dreams would be not to let your environment dictate your dreams.
It’s hard sometimes to see past your current situation, but you can find hope in people from the same environment as you. Work as hard as you can with what you have around you before looking for what you don’t have. Surround yourself with positive people, and don’t let the struggles of others bring you down. Keep working, no matter how big or small your goals may be.

Kolisi shares memories of his favourite teacher
Through his foundation, the first Black Springbok captain to hold the Rugby World Cup, Siya Kolisi, plays a vital role behind the scenes in tackling inequality in South Africa. The Kolisi Foundation was established in April 2020, a month after the COVID-19 pandemic left the country and the globe in lockdown.

With a vision by Springbok World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi and his wife, Kolisi Foundation CEO Rachel, to impact vulnerable and under-resourced communities in South Africa, the foundation has made a difference, particularly in several areas of need, namely, food security, gender-based violence and education and sports development.

“After the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup in 2019, we knew we wanted to do something great for South Africa and use that responsibility for something good,” said the Kolisis.

The Foundation unites organisations to mobilise resources and strengthen infrastructure and learning. To help communities thrive, they aim to bring about systemic change by creating safe spaces through sport and education, addressing gender-based violence, and contributing to food sustainability.

Their mission is underpinned around three integrated strategic focus areas based on Siya’s lived experience: Food Security, Gender-Based Violence, and Education and Sports Development.

In particular, the work has been strengthened around food security: Adopt a Community Kitchen, Gender-Based Violence:
Kolisi Connect, and Power2You packs, with an empowerment component being developed. Critically, the impact has been significant in Education and Sports Development via the flagship Siyaphakama Zwide Schools Project.

As part of this initiative, six Zwide schools, identified as key to materialising the vision laid out by Rachel and Siya, have been supported on an ongoing basis as part of the Kolisi Foundation Education and Sports flagship project. The six schools are Emsengeni Primary School (Siya’s primary school), Isaac Booi Primary School, Daniels Lower Primary, Sithembile Junior School, Garret Primary School and Ubuntu Pathways Primary School.

Notably, the foundation has also tackled the food security issue head-on through its nutrition programme at the six schools, with the engagement of food preparers in training workshops around basic knowledge of nutrition, health, and hygiene.

This includes completing baseline nutritional status assessments of learners at all six schools.

Community kitchens are becoming critical spaces where communities can connect and exchange. They are also places where norms are queried, transformation is spearheaded, dialogues around food are happening, and advocates’ voices for changing existing food systems are heard.

The Foundation is committed to a more holistic approach to fighting hunger.

Finally, regarding the pressing gender-based violence pandemic, the Foundation partnered with The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children to conceptualise and create a facility to serve therapeutic needs through counselling, therapy reflection, reading, and journaling. Most importantly, it is also a supportive and healing space for mothers and children to spend quality time together.

“It has been a year of impact and making a difference in communities that need it most. However, our work is by no means complete, and we encourage society and corporates to work with us to help create the better society we want,” said the Kolisis.

For more information, please visit kolisi-foundation.org

Staff Reporter

The delivery of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) training through a partnership between Microsoft South Africa and Youth Employment Service (YES) will see 300 000 young South Africans empowered with digital skills, fostering a future of innovation driving employability and economic growth.

The AI Youth Training Platform is an extension of a long-term relationship between Microsoft and YES and was lauded at Monday’s Microsoft South Africa’s A New Era with AI event, which took place in Sandton, as a critical game changer amongst more than 1 000 IT professionals and developers who are leading the charge on AI transformation within the country.

YES and Microsoft curated and developed bespoke training material, creating a training path that addresses the different levels of AI and computer science exposure. The platform is designed to enable all young people to get access to, and awareness of AI – and build skills from Novice through to Expert level.

For many, the world of AI is foreign. Recognising this gap, the introductory AI learning module was designed to provide an entry-level view of AI to the youth, focusing on highlighting the purpose and value of AI to students in a practical yet accessible manner.

“This collaborative effort with Microsoft is a testament to our ongoing commitment to equipping the youth with the digital skills for future-facing sectors and careers.  The significant number of beneficiaries underscores the scale of impact we want to achieve through this partnership,” says Ravi Naidoo, CEO of YES.

From a practical level, this partnership is geared towards creating a surge in job creation and enhanced employability to make significant strides for the country to create a more digitally inclusive economy.

“Together with YES, we are not only addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment but also helping create a culture of innovation and employability through digital capability building. Microsoft’s approach to AI is based on meaningful innovation, empowering people, and responsibility. 

“This partnership delivers on these three pillars as the means to grow a new talent pool for digital businesses to tap into not only in South Africa, but the rest of the world,” says Lillian Barnard, President for Microsoft Africa.

As young people exit the formal training programme at YES, they will have not only an awareness of how AI can improve how they work and how this could become a career or profession moving forward.  

Participants who complete the AI Expert Module and who meet key criteria, will be eligible for certification.

INSIDE EDUCATION

Inside Education Correspondent

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has introduced Rangata Attorneys to Khehlekile Primary School in Tokoza and the family of Sibusiso Mbatha, after the Grade 6 learner at the school, tragically took his own life on Monday, 23 October 2023.

Rangata Attorneys will be investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Mbatha and will provide recommendations on how to conclude the matter. 

The law firm has been given five days to conclude their investigations, and their findings will be shared upon conclusion.

INSIDE EDUCATION

Inside Education Reporter

A study conducted among advanced cancer patients in Soweto has found that most patients who received palliative care and are at the end of life have spiritual needs beyond regular prayers from spiritual leaders. 

Furthermore, patients who received religious or spiritual care had less physical pain, used less morphine and had higher odds of dying where they wished than those who did not. 

The study involving 233 participants was conducted by a team of local and international experts led by Wits researchers. 

Lead researcher Dr Mpho Ratshikana-Moloko from the Centre for Palliative Care in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University says that previous research has shown that religion and spirituality are important to most patients facing life-threatening illnesses. However, this study probed further. 

Using the African Palliative Care Association Palliative Outcome Scale, the research confirmed previous international findings that nearly 98% of the participants had a religious or spiritual need.

The most common spiritual need expressed by patients in Soweto was “seeking a closer connection with their God” and “forgiveness for sins”, says Ratshikana-Moloko. 

This finding is significant because it calls on faith leaders to provide relevant support that responds to the needs of patients. This research-led intervention empowers leaders to move beyond prayer, explains Ratshikana-Moloko.

“This is the first study to assess the spiritual and religious needs, and religious and spirituality care provided to advanced cancer patients who received palliative care in Soweto,” says Ratshikana-Moloko.

Since the study was concluded in 2018, Wits University has developed a course in Spiritual and Chaplaincy in Palliative Care. The first cohort of faith leaders from all religious backgrounds was completed in September 2023. 

Palliative Care to increase

Palliative care is one of the key pillars in illness management among terminally ill patients who are judged by a specialist physician as unlikely to benefit from curative-intent therapy. Often, patients are unlikely to survive beyond six months. 

The South African National Policy Framework and Strategy for Palliative Care (2017–2022) incorporates spirituality into health care. However, palliative care services in South and Southern Africa and elsewhere rarely address these needs, despite available policies, guidelines and evidence.

“We must implement what we know. Integrating spiritual care within the clinical care setting is recommended,” Ratshikana-Moloko. 

South Africa faces a heavy burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. One in six deaths globally is due to cancer, and cancer diagnoses are expected to increase by 70% in the next two decades, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

“Failure to identify and address the religious and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients may increase distress and suffering,” Ratshikana-Moloko.

INSIDE EDUCATION