Coding
Photo Credit: SA INC / Regency Global

School can be tough for everyone, but when facing challenges at home too, students can struggle; Bantu-Bethu Beya regained his hope when his school was selected by the Telkom Foundation for a coding course and computer lab.

 

Bethalsdorp, South Africa (11 August 2022) – Coding is one of the essential global languages as the world shifts to a more technologically advanced future. For many students in school today, an understanding of coding will help them go much further. This is why the Telkom Foundation started supporting schools to introduce the skill to hopeful pupils.

The Telkom Foundation is levelling the playing field between rural and urban schools; this helps children from all walks of life, succeed in their dreams and gain opportunities. The Foundation believes that coding should become our 12th official language, and they are working to make sure no child is left behind when it does.

The Foundation launched the Connected Schools project in 2017, pledging over R200 million over a 5-year period with a focus on using technology to improve the quality of Mathematics, Science and English education in disadvantaged communities.

For students like Bantu-Bethu (BB) Beya, this investment was life-changing! BB comes from a community that is riddled with drugs, gangsterism and violence. The chances of falling in with the wrong crowd and being swept up by bad situations are all too easy. For BB, his father had always believed in focusing on his books and education, and so, he spent his youth safely at home.

Sadly, his father became ill, which left BB deeply unhappy, unmotivated and left with no interest in school or the will to pursue a brighter future. While he still spent his time at home, his interests turned to computers. These kept him busy, and he was enthralled by the idea of hacking. When the Telkom Foundation began investing in his school, he quickly signed up for the coding classes they had to offer.

The opportunity to start coding reignited his hope for his future. He has purpose and direction again, and not only did the focus on this new opportunity benefit his larger dream for his life, but it also helped him reconnect with his overall schooling.

BB is a driven young man who now has a globally recognised coding certificate; he has the skills and ability to create websites and pursue other highly sought-after digital skills. His opportunity to find work or build his own business has been amplified, and he is looking forward to what he may accomplish in the future.

BB even went on to build his school’s website with a few friends, so they could test their skills and get real-life experience in creating something for a business.

This opportunity is one that has changed his life. We love to see how the youth blossom when organisations like the Telkom Foundation invest in their dreams.


Sources: SA INC 
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

Facebook Comments

About the Author

Tyler Leigh Vivier is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Her passion is to spread good news across South Africa with a big focus on environmental issues, animal welfare and social upliftment. Outside of Good Things Guy, she is an avid reader and lover of tea.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *