115 Learners Graduate from Telkom Foundation’s Coding & Robotics Programme
Launched as part of Telkom Foundation’s broader commitment to equip young people with relevant digital literacy and employability skills, the initiative offers technical, business, and soft skills training during school holidays.
The Telkom Foundation has marked a major milestone in its digital skills development drive with the graduation of 115 Mpumalanga learners from its Coding & Robotics Programme. The celebration, held at Ermelo Inn, recognised the learners’ successful completion of the three-year programme, which was introduced in 2022 in two Mpumalanga schools.
Launched as part of Telkom Foundation’s broader commitment to equip young people with relevant digital literacy and employability skills, the initiative offers technical, business, and soft skills training during school holidays. The programme is certified by both IBM and IC3, further enhancing its credibility and value for the participating students.
It is especially fitting that the graduation coincided with the end of South Africa’s Youth Month, which this year carried the theme ‘Skills for a Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.’
“In order to be able to use technology in meaningful, creative, and practical ways, young people must be ‘digitally ready,’ which includes having the technical know-how as well as critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills to go out and find or create opportunities for themselves”
-Judy Vilakazi, Executive: Corporate Social Responsibility, Telkom Foundation.
The Telkom Foundation is also investing in long-term sustainability of the programme. Plans are in place to upgrade school infrastructure by installing custom-built coding and robotics labs and upskilling teachers to integrate the subjects into daily teaching.
Integrating coding and robotics into the school curriculum is critical in preparing future generations of young people for the rapidly changing world of technology and AI. The programme demonstrates Telkom Foundation’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusivity by ensuring that all students, regardless of socio-economic status, have access to quality education that is aligned with 21st century skills.
“The Telkom Foundation congratulates each of the learners on this great accomplishment and looks forward to seeing many more young people go through the programme”
-Judy Vilakazi, Executive: Corporate Social Responsibility, Telkom Foundation.
