It was a happy coincidence that during Teacher Appreciation Month JumpStart won the 2020 MTN Award for Social Change! This primary school mathematics education and youth employment programme is benefiting 22 000 foundation phase learners in the Ekurhuleni South District. The award, which attracted 143 entries across the three categories, was given in recognition for...
During 2020 Mrs Adelina Msimango shared her office and her heart with four JumpStart interns. As Head of Department (Intersen) at Sekgutlong Primary School she took care of the tutors of the JumpStart programme, which is funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. As the year draws to a close, she reflects on how...
On International Teachers’ Day we honour the teachers who change the world. One of the remarkable educators who captured our imagination is the acting principal of Ukhanyiso Primary School, Mrs Funeka Phakade. She is holding a golden thread, first received as a girl from her beloved headmaster, now passing it on to tomorrow's teachers. Sitting...
When JumpCo alumnus, Tlangelani Maluleke, completed matric at Malvern High School, she wasn’t too clear about her life's goals. She chats to us on Heritage Day about being raised in a traditional Tsonga family, and her personal values and inspiration. On a spring evening in Johannesburg, Dzunisani, 4, has dragged his mom away from her laptop...
Imagine lifting the lid on the future of Grade 6 and 7 learners. Imagine intermediate phase learners grasping that they have a unique opportunity to do learn the skills that could give them meaningful and exciting work as adults. Daniella Lekgau, Project Manager of JumpStart Robotics Labs, has a big vision. She has seen how...
Not many alumni travel through JumpStart and JumpCo Software Labs, but Molefe Skosana is now a software developer for a luxury car manufacturer in Midrand, where he continues developing the skills and building on the knowledge that he gained during his internship. We caught up with him to find out what has changed for him...
Tumelo Mokoena is a tutor at Mohlodi Primary School, where he inspires a love of maths to learners in Grades 1,2 and 3. This 22-year-old says that teaching maths has greatly changed since he was in primary school. "Especially, if you consider lockdown learning, teaching via smartphones and devices!" As a tutor he is eager...
Falling in love with mathematics as a student kickstarted Lerato Molete’s career as an apprentice automotive machinist. “There’s no job a woman can’t do,” she says, excited about sharing her story during Women’s Month....
This Women's Month we feature some exceptional women in our community. The first of our August heroines is Barbara Bogogolela, who shared her experience of teaching Grade One under challenging circumstances. Back in January this year, Mrs Bogogolela stood on the long corridor outside her classroom door, leading the young Grade Ones into her class...
Once upon a time, when Simphiwe Mtshali was working in a health spa, where Women's Month meant doing lots of manicures and massages. This year, during Covid-19 lockdown, she has been massaging numbers and building children's futures online. From beauty therapist to maths tutor was a substantial career shift, but the journey continued in ways...
