Sparrow Schools and Vuma team up to provide IT and robotics to disadvantaged youth
Revolutionising education for youth facing barriers, Sparrow schools and Vuma are launching a cutting-edge IT and robotics programme, providing essential skills and free connectivity for a brighter future for their learners.
For 35 years, Sparrow Schools Educational Trust has provided affordable, quality education to children and youth facing barriers to learning, or coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.
During this time, they have received prestigious awards, including recognition from South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, and have equipped thousands of young South Africans with the tools to build better futures.
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Now, in a move set to empower students who may have never had access before, Sparrow Schools and Vuma are coming together to ensure the power of connectivity reaches more lives than ever before.
Renata Noble, CSI manager at Sparrow Schools, shares, “I am incredibly proud to be able to launch our IT and robotics programme. It is a stunning idea that will open up a world of future opportunities for our students by teaching skills in robotics and coding.”
Noble said that they have been fortunate to have incredible partners over the years, which has allowed them to achieve amazing things, such as launching their robotics programme. “What keeps me up at night is the uncertainty. Wondering if those partners will still be there in the long run. It’s difficult to fully realise the potential of a programme when you can’t be sure of the funding for the next year.”
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He mentioned that their partnership with Vuma, one of the country’s leading fibre network operators, brings some much-needed stability. “This collaboration provides Sparrow Schools with a free, unlimited 1 gigabyte per second connection, part of Vuma’s commitment to enhancing connectivity for learners nationwide.”
Taylor Kwong, Vuma’s head of marketing, explains, “This partnership is symbolic of how access to infrastructure and modern technology can unlock new opportunities in places where they were previously inaccessible. We are at the cusp of a new world and it’s important that we create these kinds of collaborations so that everyone can enjoy the benefits and opportunities that come with technology. This partnership furthers that mission.”
He noted that the robotics and coding programme, designed with the future in mind, gives learners hands-on experience with the technologies shaping tomorrow’s industries. Through a blend of interactive platforms, students explore new technologies in an environment that is both nurturing and fun.
“Programmes like these are the reason everyone at these schools loves their job,” says Noble. “Whether it is robotics or our retail training, we are not just teaching skills, we are giving our learners a real chance to succeed.”
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