Mandela Day: Perseverance leads to success...

On Mandela Day, a story of how it often takes many people working together all willing to 'go the extra mile' for progress to occur..

Ziphelele Mdlalo (ZSP Computer Centre Assistant) reported that the server and some devices were crashing at Sonwabo Primary School. Daniel Aylen (ZSP Technician) went to the school and examined the devices. His extensive testing led him to discover that the voltage coming into the school was fluctuating greatly, with some of the power supply having a very low voltage and some a high voltage.

The ZSP Team contacted Alfred Sieberts (local electrical contractor) to get a official report on the school's power supply. He confirmed Daniel's diagnosis and also explained that this problem was affecting the local community in addition to Sonwabo Primary School.

William Page (ZSP Facilitator) shared the findings and the electrical report with the school management and as a result Mthuthu Ngqongqo (School ZSP Champion) visited the local City of Cape Town offices to report the fault.

After three days there had been no response, so Mario Rhode (ZSP Facilitator) visited the local City of Cape Town offices in person to present the electrical report and chase up a response.

The next day City of Cape Town electrical contractors were repairing the power supply to the local community!

It took team work, persistence and determination to not only solve the problem at Sonwabo Primary but benefit the school's local community in Gugulethu.

Beyond the learners - Refugee Forum, Thomas Wildschutt Senior

Weekends in 2011 have become a hive of activity as the Refugee Forum Adult Literacy Classes at Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary have embarked on the next phase of development – computer literacy in the Zisukhanyo Schools Project Computer Centre.

Andre, member of the school’s family of volunteers and convener of the Literacy Project, approached Mr Jansen (School Principal) and was immediately given the go-ahead to allow the transfer of skills and expertise.

Andre stated that although the programme initially started with adult refugees in mind, their kids have started to partake in the initiative.

Participants, young and old, have begun with simple, tentative exercises in Microsoft Word and by the end of the current year, other software packages will be introduced and mastered as well.

Thanks to Majdi Ryklief, Thomas Wildschutt Senior School for the article and pictures.