Corporate Social Investment (CSI) NEWS

MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet funds edible garden

 

Chapel Street Primary School in Woodstock, Cape Town recently celebrated the first harvest from its new edible garden with a harvest table of dishes created by chef and ex-MasterChef contestant, Sue-Ann Allen.

The edible garden, funded by MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet in partnership with Woolworths Financial Services, will yield nearly 10kg of fresh produce every day, benefitting the school's 580 learners, many of whom come to school hungry every day and rely on the meal they get at school. This is the second school food garden funded by MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet and Woolworths Financial Services as part of their continued efforts to support schools in the area and contribute to the communities in which they operate.

The 400m² garden, established in July with the planting of nearly 3,200 seedlings, includes many different varietals of vegetables and herbs - broccoli, spinach, celery, turnips, curly kale, flat kale, beetroot, lettuce, parsley, rosemary, lavender, lemon verbena, basic, cabbage, leeks and many more.

The edible garden will provide a food source to be used within the school's feeding scheme and will be included in the school curriculum wherever possible, not limited to biology. It will also provide a source of extramural activities, such as the garden club at the school.

Great nutritional value

Adding fresh, locally grown produce to the learners' diets has great nutritional value and added to that is the experience of growing their own food. They learn from the garden - planting, growing, harvesting and then eating the food they've grown.

"Learners from many different areas in Cape Town come to school at Chapel Street every day, many of them without a packed lunch and from homes where there are no gardens. This edible garden is our contribution towards giving more learners access to fresh food and a living garden where they can learn how to grow food and take responsibility for the upkeep of the garden. Hopefully, the garden will also spark community and public interest in the school and in urban food gardens," said Pieter Twine, MySchool's GM.

"Chapel Street Primary was identified as an under-resourced school in our area that and has been our flagship school this year. We've been working with them through our participation in the Community of Learning Principals and the Partners for Possibility initiative and wanted to continue supporting them, so they can continue on their journey to be more sustainable and independent. Chapel Street Primary is run by highly committed staff who are motivated to participate in initiatives that will benefit their learners," said Sivi Pillay, CEO of Woolworths Financial Services."

Posted on 2 Nov 2015 09:40

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SKILLS TRAINING NEWS

Anzisha Prize rewards young Nigerian as Africa's top young entrepreneur

 

This year's winner of the $25,000 grand prize in the 5th year of the Anzisha Prize for youth entrepreneurship is Chris Kwekowe (22) of Nigeria, founder of Slatecube, which offers job-relevant skills learning platform and job placement services.

Slatecube has had significant success to date with potential for scale and will serve as an inspiring beacon for other youth interested in entrepreneurship. Kwekowe founded it to increase job access for youth through creating a platform on which they can build job-relevant skills and linking them with virtual internship opportunities that enable them to develop experience. His vision for the venture is to see it grow into a wide-scale provider of relevant job market access, with increasing ability to open doors for job seekers. "I did not believe that I could have won the prize when the competition started. However, I feel confident in what I can achieve now, given the capital and training that I have received through the Anzisha Prize. I congratulate all the other finalists as I believe they were all very impressive and look forward to engaging them as we support each other to grow going forward," he says. 

The first runner up was Fabrice Alomo from Cameroon, founder of My AConnect. The venture aims to increase the ease with which unbanked people in Cameroon transact and gain access to financial services and the second runner up was Mabel Suglo from Ghana, founder of Eco Shoes. Mabel offers an assortment of shoes and accessories that are fashionable and Afro-themed, using recycled materials. Her employee-base is predominantly disabled individuals.

The 2015 Finalists were celebrated at a prestigious invitation-only ceremony on 17 November 2015 at Room Five in Rivonia, Johannesburg. The keynote speaker was Alex Okosi, pioneer of MTV Networks in Africa, a staunch proponent for a truly African voice for youth.

Agriculture Prize

The Anzisha Sector Prize in Agriculture was awarded to Chantal Butare, founder of Kinazi Dairy Cooperative. Her cooperative collects milk from over 3 000 families in her community and processes the milk for sale. She generates income for these families, as well as for ten milk collectors who are in her employ. Her ambition is motivate sufficient capital to mechanize her process and increase scale to create revenue for yet more families in her community. 

"Over the past five years, we have seen the Anzisha Prize evolve from a one-time prize for social entrepreneurship, to an entire community of young, innovative leaders across Africa who have access to comprehensive support and networking opportunities," says Koffi Assouan, Program Manager, Youth Livelihoods at The MasterCard Foundation. "I continue to be impressed by the calibre of youth entrepreneurs that Africa has to offer and congratulate them on their ability to inspire both ourselves and the rest of the continent."

Applications for the next cycle of the Anzisha Prize will open on the 15th of February in 2016. However, nominations for promising youth entrepreneurs are open all year round. For more information, go to www.anzishaprize.org.

Posted on 20 Nov 2015 12:04

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SKILLS TRAINING NEWS

Why you should find a mentor - now

 

Graduates, facing the world of work, often find that this is a challenge, compounded by indecision, options and inexperience.

Wonga Ntshinga

"The best move they can make now is to find a mentor," says Wonga Ntshinga, Senior Head of Programme at The Independent Institute of Education. "What next, is a persistent headache for overwhelmed graduates.

"Although they are probably already looking through newspapers and online career portals searching for a job, one of the best things they can do at this point is to find a mentor in their industry. 

"Throughout life, people rely formally and informally on others to learn, grow and gain experience. Elders often fulfil these roles in communities and families. For career development, graduates need similar support, but from a professional who has already walked the path they are about to embark on.

"The benefits of mentorship are well known and some organisations and companies have formal mentoring programmes. However many do not, and in that instance, it is up to them to find a suitable mentor to guide and support them through good times and bad.

"Mentors are ideally positioned to help young graduates with practical, industry-specific advice - whether it be skills or career options."

Finding a mentor

• Through your higher education institution - "Some work-oriented institutions have mentorship programmes. If the institution has such a programme, enrol as soon as possible, so that you can take the same relationship through with you to the workplace."
• Through professional bodies - "Most industries have professional bodies. Join these bodies through social networks, online programmes and networking events. Subscribe to an industry-specific mentoring programme. Or get involved with the industry community, which will allow you to identify someone with both the knowledge and experience you seek."
• In your new job - "You can also seek a mentor as soon as you find a position. This further offers a great opportunity to stand out during the interview process, by asking the panel whether they have a mentorship programme or similar opportunities."

Mentorship models

Ntshinga says there are a number of ways a mentorship can be conducted, including:

• Regular face-to-face sessions - Meeting face-to-face with your mentor is important, as regular contact can ensure that things are done. Phone calls and e-mails are convenient, but in-person consultations ensure engagement and drive participation more efficiently.
• Online sessions - There are many online tools which can both help you find a professional mentor and enhance the mentorship process.
• Formal or informal sessions - "Some organisations have left mentoring in an informal structure, while other organisations are now taking the approach of measuring the success of these programmes via structured mentorship programmes. Increasingly, companies are formalising mentoring programmes, with policies, mentor screening, training and development."

Mentor and protégé characteristics

"When looking out for a prospective mentor, graduates should find someone senior - at executive level, a consultant or teacher, someone in middle or upper management or in research. 

"You need to find someone who is able to make time for you, who is able to listen and communicate effectively, and above all is willing to share knowledge and motivate you. In short, a mentor is someone who is nurturing, protective, honest and has a balanced perspective."

As a protégé, graduates must also possess a certain skills set.

"You must be positive, have a passion for learning and be willing to take advice. You must be welcoming of constructive criticism in order to gain knowledge from your career mentor."

"The benefit of having a mentor early in one's career cannot be stressed enough. Many of history's most successful people were mentored, including great names such as Martin Luther King Jr, Richard Branson, and Alexander the Great. Even Napoleon Hill, the renowned author of literature on personal success, was mentored. Mentoring provides you with a solid and informed support structure as you take your first steps into the great unknown," concludes Ntshinga.

Posted on 23 Nov 2015 11:37

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Africa Biz: PRIMARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION NEWS

Africa Biz: PRIMARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION NEWS: Adopt-a-School profiles its star matriculants   ISSUED BY:  ADOPT-A-SCHOOL Pupils from schools supported by education NGO Adopt-a-Schoo...