Ithuba Innovation Hub

Many children growing up in South Africa’s rural and urban townships attend underesouced schools which lack access to the current educational and technological curriculums that will prepare them for the future opportunities. Siviwe Mbinda grew up in a township school himself and did not do well in both his maths and science classes in 12th grade. He recognized that he had missed a vital foundation in his preparation for the way the world was advancing. Having only first had the opportunity to use a computer in 2003 at 20 years old he quickly realized the gap between himself and his peers coming from more privileged backgrounds. Though his curious nature and long hours of self-education Siviwe was able to increase his knowledge in technology and STEM related subjects. Siviwe found success as an entrepreneur in the tourism sector as well as working with children in his community using dance to promote education. Through his exposure to people from different parts of the world he learned more about different educational opportunities and realized this can also be achieved in his community through partnerships and collaborations. In 2011, Siviwe met Dr. Diane Flannery, current collaborator in iThuba with her travel company Global Buddies. In 2014, Dr. Flannery’s daughter Maya designed a girls STEM program for Happy Feet. The program’s success gave Siviwe the idea to expand his afterschool school program to include programs that better prepare students for future opportunities. This program developed into the founding of ithuba Innovation Hub to further support STEM education for South African township youth. As the world becomes further and further shaped by technology and engineering, children coming from under resourced schools are left behind. The skills and opportunity gaps will only widen further if bridges to STEM education are not built. Not only does STEM open opportunities for employment, it also enables whole new sectors of employment to be created. This next generation of South Africans will be prepared to solve today’s challenges for a better tomorrow.