Ivory Park learners win at annual innovation expo
The programme was introduced to the school in 2016 by two ladies
Expo EduPropeller (NPO) hosted its 3rd Annual Final Innovation Expo, where learners competed against each other at the WITS Old Mutual Sports Hall situated at the East campus in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on September 21.
The Gauteng based NPO provides learners from previously disadvantaged schools with the skills to become innovators and technopreneurs. Learners are equipped with research methodology skills and are tasked to identify challenges in their communities and come up with STEMI (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation) solutions.
Thulile Khanyile said the learners showcased their projects at the school level Expo, where projects with the most potential were selected and progressed into the Final Innovation Expo.
“The learners has been a part of our program from the beginning of the year. They have shown tremendous commitment to their work and having won at the School Level Expo is a result of that and your support.
“As winners, they had to compete at the Final Innovation Expo in Gauteng. Meals were provided and transport. The learners were accompanied by their educators as well as Nka’thuto staff. They returned on the 21st of September after the Expo but the winner was required to attend a workshop on the following day of September 22,” said Khanyile.
The four winners from Ivory Park Secondary School were Tshepiso Malema, Shantel Maotomabe, Hlengiwe Shabalala and Tinyiko Mashaba, all of which is in grade 11. The winners were awarded laptops and tablets and advanced to the next stage of workshop camp.
Ivory Park Secondary School, Science and Technology, Head of Department and Nka’thutho site manager Robert Chauke said Nka’thutho is about empowering young Africans and introducing them to research, they are being taught to identify problems and coming up with solutions for those problems.
“The programme was introduced to the school in 2016 by two ladies named Thulile Khanyile and Thandeka Mhlanga, they are the co-directors of the programme.
“Nka’thutho has helped the school as winners have been awarded laptops and tablets and other participants received prize money which the grade 12’s use for their varsity applications,” added Chauke.
The first stage is where they have to identify a problem and working in pairs or groups, they have to draft a proposal which they submit to their mentors, assigned to by Nka’thutho.
“They proceed to take the presentations to the expo, they then attend the technopreneur workshop after which the winners attend the prize-giving gala event at the end of the year to which the parents and teachers of the learners are invited to attend the event, where the winners will receive their prizes,” concluded Chauke.
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