4 NEWS
CITY VISION Thursday, 13 April 2017
Donation to creche falls like manna MBONGISENI MASEKO
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struggling crèche received a much needed donation from another educare in partnership with SAPS, on Tuesday, in Khayelitsha. Umzomhle Educare Centre which is based in TR Section was lucky enough to welcome the donation. Thanks to Tinytubbies Educare, from Grassy Park, in partnership with Lingelethu West SAPS station for donating clothes, grocery, toys, television set, Easter Eggs, and planted vegetables for them at their garden.
The relationship formed with the crèche, based at TR Section, is planned to benefit them for longer in future. Maud Kleinsmith, human resource officer from the police station, said they were touched by the condition of the crèche after visiting them recently. “We identify a needy crèche every year around the Easter to donate to. So this year we identified this one. We were so shocked when we visited the crèche to learn about their situation. This is a health and wellness month for police hence they are also involved in the project,” Kleinsmith said. Myrtle Swartz, owner of Tinytubbies Edu-
Tinytubbies Educare, from Grassy Park, in partnership with Lingelethu West Police Station handed over donation at Umzomhle Educare Centre, on Tuesday, in TR Section, Khayelitsha. PHOTO: MBONGISENI MASEKO
care, said they their aim is to help improve the situation of the crèche. “We saw a need to come to an aid for the less fortunate crèche. We are planning to come back to donate winter clothes as part of our winter drive. We have already formed a relationship with the crèche which will benefit them in future,” Swartz said. Swartz said they have also been to Bonginkosi Educare, in the area, which they have donated many things for a number of years. Elizabeth Sindi, 64, the principal of Umzomhle Educare Centre, applauded the donation. “We accommodate children who are com-
ing from a disadvantage background and most parents cannot afford to pay. We always run out of grocery. We feel very happy. This is like a manna that feel for the Israelites .. We are really in need. Sometimes thugs brake-in and steal the little grocery that we buy. Four classes had to share the few toys that we had,” Sindi said. The crèche of 116 children between the ages of zero to 5, was established in 1997. Parents pay between R100 and R200 per month. Nombuyiselo Nonkonyane, chairperson at the crèche thanked the donors and said the crèche is really in need for help.
Jerome April, Peter Corrie and Enricho Fenton cultivating a garden, at Umzomhle Educare Centre, on Tuesday.
Information system guru wants to help others improve MBONGISENI MASEKO A youth who started his business in information technology is opening his arms to mentor those who have a passion for the industry. Sakhumzi “Sakhi” Louw, from Khayelitsha, started his information technology business, Ntinga Information System, few years ago and he believes that anyone can conquer his or her world. Louw a System Engineer focusing on information security, infrastructure, systems performance tuning, shell scripting, implementation of architecture standards, assist and mentor junior engineers in technical functions, capacity management, backup and recovery information security research including site reliability. He said everyone can reach greater heights regardless of the issue of where one is coming from. “There are a lot of opportunities that exist,
but some youth in townships do not know about. Growing up in a disadvantaged background does not mean you cannot compete in an international level. My love for open source started in the year 2000 when I was introduced to Windows as an additional subject in high school which I passed without having a computer at home. I used to print an A3 page of a keyboard at the local library and practiced typing skills,” Louw said. He was then introduced to a volunteer group that had a project funded by the Shuttleworth Foundation, in 2001. They focused on installing computer labs in schools running Linux Terminal Services. “That to me was paradise, I felt relieved, I felt like I had power on my fingertips, which I did. Learning and understanding Linux command line became my daily bread, till today. I have been learning as much as
I possibly about information security, software development, systems architecture and containers (DevSecOps),” he added. He has since mentored and assisted his two younger brothers, Mziwonke, who is already making his mark in the industry, and Mzwamadoda Louw, who is still trying to find his feet on the industry. “My wish is to lead or mentor a group of ambitious and talented individuals from diverse backgrounds who are keen on learning about open source technology. I should be able to assist them from anywhere in the country all that is required is access to the internet. I was mentored and continue to be mentored,” he added. Louw has recently moved to Johannesburg in pursuit of greener pastures.
Sakhumzi “Sakhi” Louw, wants to mentor youth to achieve their dreams. PHOTO: SUPPLIED