CHANGEMAKER: Learning centre brings digital and tech skills to Hillbrow’s youth
Netstar is equipping learners in the inner city of Joburg with vital resources for learning more about science, technology, engineering and maths.
Netstar, a subsidiary of tech giant Altron, has established a digital learning centre (DLC) at the BG Alexander Estate in Johannesburg's Hillbrow, aiming to equip inner-city youth with vital science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) skills. Hillbrow is notorious for its crime and poverty, so this initiative could provide an opportunity for underprivileged children to become future inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs.
The BG Alexander Estate, once a prestigious nursing college, fell into disrepair in the early 2000s. However, it was reclaimed by the Madulammoho Housing Association and the Johannesburg Social Housing Company in 2007. The MES (Mould Empower Serve) non-profit organization now operates the centre, providing a full spectrum of social services within the block.
Netstar's DLC is a state-of-the-art facility with two spacious classrooms, ready to host Grade 7 to Grade 9 learners after school. The centre will offer robotics, coding, and tinkering – skills that are crucial for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and an AI-driven future. Tinkering involves hands-on learning and curiosity, while robotics provides a practical approach to abstract concepts such as mathematics and logic.
Coding, on the other hand, trains the brain to break down complex problems into simple, logical steps by writing precise instructions for computers to execute.
The DLC will not only cater to learners from the BG Alexander Estate but also host students from neighboring schools, thereby expanding its impact beyond the after-care student body. Netstar's managing director, Warren Mande, emphasized that this project is more than a one-off donation or a logo on a wall; it is a long-term investment that will benefit many learners and contribute to the development of future engineers, software developers, and entrepreneurs in South Africa.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
