Second place for Noorderland at Airlink innovation challenge

POLOKWANE – Noorderland High School learners obtained second place at The Link STEM Innovation Challenge hosted by Airlink, which took place at Flora Park Comprehensive High School on April 17.

Bernice Shongoane, the subject head for physical sciences explained that annually, Airlink visits different provinces and introduce the innovation challenge. Different schools were invited to take part.

“We had two groups take part and the prerequisites by Airlink was that 50% of the group be females, learners in Gr 10 doing mathematics and sciences and have an average of 70%. The learners had to design an app with the aim of helping the community. They had to identify a problem and find a solution through the app that they created from scratch. The app must be active and fully functional,” she said.

The two groups, Medlink and Green Coterie both selected the category of poverty.

The first group, Medlink identified that most of the people who live in poverty are forced to use public health facilities. Their app is targeted at people collecting chronic medication who have to stand in line the entire day to get their medication; sometimes to be told that there is no stock available.

“The app works concurrently with a USSD code and the app doesn’t require data to function. The app gives patients the option to log in and check which medication is available for the collection date. If there’s low stock, it suggests the nearest alternative facility that has stock and you can set an appointment for the date and time, allowing the patient to bypass the long queues,” explained Shongoane.

The second group, Green Coterie’s app was born from the idea of Medlink.

Also targeting impoverished patients, it takes into consideration the people who stand the long queues without access to food. Their app works with the hospital to find out the number of people expected on the day and they use that information to prepare the meal packages. It also gives the option to book for the meal if you are going to be at the hospital.

“These meals will come from a community garden which they will plant fruit and vegetables to feed the people who queue for medication. The app also gives the option for people to donate towards the initiative,” she said.

Some of the learners within the groups qualified for one-on-one interviews the following day of which if they are successful, they will be inducted to The Link where they will be mentored and monitored for the rest of their high school career. It also offers the possibility of a bursary and vacation work when in university.