Sakhikamva in aviation awareness

“THE future of South Africa’s aerospace industry is anchored with the country’s highly talented youth, its mission being to identify and develop talent in ensuring that a solid foundation is laid to feed the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline.”

So said Sakhikamva Foundation founder Fatima Jakoet as the NPO hosted 450 children at a flight simulator exhibition in Cape Town this week.

The foundation creates aviation awareness in order to identify and develop young South African talent.

Jakoet said the foundation has worked with over 70 000 youth nationwide so far, and has developed more than 12 programmes and projects on a rotational basis.

She said there are three levels that the foundation had identified in order to distinguish the impact of the development and service they aim to deliver to its beneficiaries.

Engineer and volunteer at Sakhikamva, Rudolph Stegmann said: “The Sakhikamva project is the world’s first Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Aerospace and Mathematics (STREAM) Laboratory to zone in on the much needed STEM education in the disadvantaged and rural communities.”

Program Coordinator at the Cape Town Science Centre, Allen Hart said the Sakhikamva project gave young people immersive learning and experiences.

“It gave them a hands on feel. It supplemented over our holiday programme. We had over 450 kids at the Science Centre this week and they learnt a lot which included the aviation programme, 3D printing, app building and an interactive whiteboard where they were taught tech. These programmes help to play a key role in the STEM foundation,” said Hart.

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, to impact on a child’s life, and sponsor kids who would pursue a career in aviation next year, contact: 0614806000,

http://www.sakhikamva. org/index.php/contact.html