Learning Centre Hubs

The communities in townships do not have access to technology or the internet. This prevents them from accessing and promoting their skills and talents and learning vital skills to uplift themselves out of poverty and take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  The problem exists country wide in all townships for the previously disadvantaged communities. Millions of the youth are unemployed because they lack the vital skills to gain employment. South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world at 32%. Teachers fear technology in our schools and are not comfortable using computers, laptops, Ipads or even smart phones. Young entrepreneurs lack facilities to plan and create business proposals. Education on the whole in our township schools is poor and many fail Grade 12. 

To build IT rich Learning Centres in the stadiums in the heart of these communities and deliver free programmes to the unemployed youth in the mornings and the school students and adults in the afternoons. The stadiums are ideal facilities for these learning centres as they have the infrastructure and 'Wow' factor to entice learners back into learning after school and keep them off the streets. The programme was successful in the UK and Soweto, Diepsloot, Tembisa where I managed the learning centres for Orlando Priates FC and Edunova locally and Chelsea FC, Fulham FC and QPR FC in the UK. The stadiums can be used and not become white elephants so it is also generating jobs and revenue for the stadium management. The stadiums have fibre internet connectivity so with the IT equipment the possibilities are endless. Our curriculumn will focus on English , Maths , IT and coding and robotics skills as well as deliver programmes like A+, IT Essentials, CCNA, Microsoft Education and Vodacom Teachers Centres programmes. 

It serves the poor communities of townships like Soweto and Gugulethu. The centres become educational hubs in the community assisting scholars to improve their grades, unemployed youth to become more employable and the small to medium business owners to develop skills in management, finances, accounting and growing their businesses. It also assists the elderly to become tech savvy and empower them to use IT in their lives and teachers to become more comfortable with using IT in the classroom. All who attend the centres will  be able to take on opportunities that rewrite the narrative and change their futures and bring them out of poverty.

I initiated, opened, scaled and developed the Orlando Pirates Learning centres in Soweto for 9 years. I have excellent relationships with stakeholders in the community and with the Department of Basic Education as well as corporates like Acer for Education, Microsoft, CISCO and Vodacom to be able to make these centres successful and reach even more young people. 

I trained and empowered my staff on the unique model of using the power of  sport and IT to educate. 

The Orlando Pirates Learning Centre changed the lives of 15000 students and found employment for 3000 young adults which helped curb youth unemployment. It also helped teachers to become confident in using technology in the classroom and the elderly to try new things. 

The model has been perfected over the past 13 years and suits the needs of the communities in South Africa and in poor areas where education is low all over the world. 

The Learning Centres changed the lives of 18000 students and found employment for 4000 young adults which helped curb youth unemployment. It also helped 2500 teachers to become confident in using technology in the classroom and encouraged the elderly to try new things. 350 new businesses were started by graduates of the learning centres.

I have spent the last 13 years honing and perfecting the model which takes into consideration the needs of the community and delivers programmes which help the community become life-long learners, increases their confidence and self esteem, skills the youth so they can find employment and helps SMEs to develop and thrive

We lack the resources to open the centres in the stadiums. We need computers and laptops as well as some finances to pay staff.

My solution assessess the needs of the community and builds programmes to make sure their needs are met. The programmes personalise the learning experience and mold the programme around the individual so that they can reach their full potential. 

In my 9 years in Soweto and other townships across South Africa, I found an unbelievable need for education for the majority of the people who live there. We were overwhelmed with people trying to get access to the learning centres in South Africa. The education system is failing its students as it is not equipping them with the right skills to succeed or get out of poverty. 

My solution speaks directly to this massive need and helps curb youth unemployment, learners failing at school and equips the community at large with the skills to get out of the poverty cycle.

I have 13 years working experience in the townships of South Africa with the previously disadvantaged communities. I have assessed the needs of these communities and perfected a model that will help these communities to empower and uplift themselves through education.

I have developed skills in assessing and evaluating the needs of communities and in response have perfected a model of Learning Centres that will help create a better future for all.

I want to build at least 1 Learning Centre in every Township across South Africa. I want them to be based in the stadiums so that they have a 'WOW" effect on those who attend. I want these centres to become learning hubs and benefit most of the community around them.

The progress will be measured on the number of centres we build and the number of people who attend them on a daily basis. I plan to have a Learning Centre Manager at each centre who will report directly to me on a daily basis. I will also train the learning centre managers once a month on the model I have perfected.  

The basic technology that is essential for every Learning Centre will be computers, Laptops, Tablets and a strong fibre connection to the internet. We will also use smartboards, apps, SMS technology, software, AI, robots, virtual reality.

3 Directors

7 Centre Managers

14 Assistants

Hundreds of volunteers

13

We provide equal opportunities for all living in South Africa. On our team we have people that represent every age group from 3-75, Every Nationality in South Africa from Zambia to China, every gender, every one of the 11 official languages spoken in South Africa from English to Xhosa and Zulu.

We provide vital skills and education to the previously disadvantaged communities to uplift themselves out of poverty. We provide them with a highly skilled team of educators that have 25 years+ experience in educating the communities in townships. The communities are in dire need of these services as the state education does not equip them with the right skills to succeed and rewrite the narrative for a better future. We provide these services by building learning centres in the heart of the community, often in stadiums which have the facilities and infrastructure that we need. 

Once we train the Youth on computer skills, they offer their services to the community at a price. They repair computers, laptops, smart phones and help lead SMEs to success. 

We also open the Learning Centres up for the community to use the internet, printing facilities and subscribe to courses at a cost.

We arrange events and raffles often where people pay to participate. 

Lastly we are an NPO so receive some equipment and donations from corporates and the government.