Equipping children for the next revolution
arthi.gopi@inl.co.za
WHEN Nonjabulo Gasa sits in front of her computer, there is one aim – strategising ways to pass on her digital knowledge and skills to her community.
A mechanical engineer by profession, the managing director of tech NGO, Smartipants, is intent on equipping young people with the skills to launch into the next revolution.
She is just one member of a growing group of like-minded individuals, who together form Durban Global Shapers, who bring their collective experiences to help equip the youth to be active participants in the economy.
Global Shapers, founded by the World Economic Forum, is described as a “network of young people driving dialogue, action and change”.
“Durban Global Shapers is giving us a platform to build on our projects for the betterment of our communities. Young people today don’t have access to the information and programmes to build their skills to be able to find employment in the digital revolution. Thousands of jobs are expected to be lost with the next revolution,” said Gasa.
As part of their programme, Gasa said she and her team would work with school pupils to build their digital knowledge, and had already hosted open workshops for pupils on mechatronics and robotics.
Nomfanelo Dlomo, deputy curator of Durban Global Shapers, said the platform was created by the World Economic Forum to amplify its work at ground level, particularly among the youth.
“We need more young people to be involved in the economies of their countries. We are the foot soldiers, so to speak, doing our part to make this possible. We amplify the message of the World Economic Forum by initiating projects in cities. The members of Durban Global Shapers come from different backgrounds, such as economics, legal, medical, communications and digital. Our vision for Durban is to change, build and inspire, and the members are leading projects that bring this vision to life,” said Dlomo.
For more info, visit https://www. globalshapers.org/hubs/durban-hub