Vodacom and ICASA empower learners with ICT tools to kickoff 16th CRASA Conference

Vodacom is proud to be one of the sponsors of the 6TH CRASA Annual AGM, taking place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban this week. The CRASA AGM is hosted by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

To kick off the conference on Sunday, Vodacom hosted the CRASA delegation at Umbilo Teacher Training Centre where Vodacom showcased its Vodacom Mobile Education offerings.

Vodacom Group, Chief Executive Officer, Takalani Netshitenzhe said: “Today is about demonstrating transformative power of technology through education; and The power of partnerships between government, private sector and civil society,” Netshitenzhe said: “The Vodacom Foundation spends about a R100 million annually to uplift the lives of South Africans. We do this through Education, Health, and Safety and Security projects in partnership with government. Our biggest investment is in education where we spend over R50m in a year.”

“In education we run projects mainly under the umbrella Vodacom Mobile Education through

the mobile education we provide quality education content with the department and other partners we

have Vodacom eschool, we contribute to skills development to ready young people for the digital society through our ICT youth Academy programme,’’ she said.

In order to address cost challenges associated with access to education and to provide Internet connectivity to previously disadvantaged schools, Vodacom has this year connected 40 schools in KZN with elearning solution laboratory.

Through this, Vodacom has provided the schools with 40 Galaxy Tab A devices, an eBeam (interactive device), a whiteboard, a laptop, a WiFi router, 40 Bay Trolleys, ebooks with content for Grade 10 Maths and Physics and connectivity with 2048 kbps for 12 months.

The elearning solution also offers free internet access to education content for learners in grades R -12 across the country. Learners who are Vodacom subscribers are able to access

curriculum aligned classroom content on their mobile devices across all major subjects for free.

Visit www.vodacom.co.za/e-school  for free online lessons with Vodacom e-school.

This intervention is an illustration of Vodacom’s core belief that ICT and mobile technology can be utilised to help improve and advance learning and address skills development in communities such as KwaMashu. The Vodacom eSchool portal, launched in January 2015 is a prime example of how Vodacom is contributing to society.

Through providing access to internet services and through promoting the digitisation of classrooms across our country, Vodacom is helping to uplift both learners and teachers in our schools.

Vodacom also offers Bursaries for students studying ICT and Engineering and Operations fields.

For all the details visit http://www.vodacom.com/about-us/foundation/bursaries

Applications for bursaries close 30 June.

Article by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton

Your Weekend Event Guide Durban

Plenty to do and see around Durban this weekend

Decorex - Image: Home 

Decorex Durban: 18 – 21 March 2017

Time: 18 – 20 March: 10am – 8pm | 21 March: 10am – 6pm

Ticket prices: Adults: R85, Pensioners: R 75, Children under 12: R20

Tickets: Computicket or at the door

Venue: Durban Exhibition Centre

www.decorex.co.za

Fabulous Francofête!

Sutton Park, Durban: Human Rights Day, 21 March 2017

Day time: Family Affair from 10h30am – 4pm   | wonderful food and drink on offer

Evening: Music Concert from 4h30pm – 8pm    | great line up of musicians

Free Entry!

For more info, visit the Alliance Française at 22 Sutton Crescent, Morningside,

tel 031 312 9582.

Looking Ahead

Party with the Wolf Pack

Date: Saturday, March 25th

Time: starting from 10am

Place: uShaka Marine World Wet n Wild

A hot line up of South African local talent, featuring Aewon Wolf, Sketchy Bongo, Kyle Deutsch, Kaien Cruz, Locnville, Khumz and much more

Cost: R168 per person ‐ Tickets available from Computicket or at the uShaka Marine World ticketing office

Enquiries: (031) 328 8000 or go to www.ushakamarineworld.co.za

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton

Enter The Youth Innovation Challenge 2017

Create a Smart, Sustainable City Durban!

Calling all creatives.  Want to contribute to solving some of the challenges facing Durban?

Step up and be part of the revolution! Enter the 2017 Youth Innovation Challenge.  Great prizes up for grabs!  Innovate Durban has once again brought this competition to you.

Partners behind this challenge include eThekwini Municipality, Durban Chamber of Business, Oracle, Aurecon, ILO, The Government of Flanders, Nedbank, Thundafund, Open Data Durban, Adams & Adams, Life Co Unltd. and more.

This has ensured that there is a package of exciting prizes to be won!

General rules:

·         Only youth between ages of 18 – 35 years may apply for the competition component

·         Only online applications accepted for Stream 1 and 2

·         South African citizens are encouraged to apply

·         Previous participants may apply but preference will be given to first time applicants

·         The decisions made by the judges and Youth Innovation Challenge Committee is final

Criteria for Impact Entrepreneur Category:

·         Ethical fibre, passion and personal characteristics

·         Have a clear sustainable model

·         Realistic development plan

·         Have a clear social and or environmental mission

·         Type of impact created

·         Self-contribution by impact entrepreneur

·         Indication of buy-in from the community and community research

·         Innovative idea

·         Is the idea new in the market?

·         Evidence of having started or work done around the concept

Excludes: Franchises; Co-operatives

There will be 2 streams to this Challenge

Stream 1 will include a enterPRIZE Challenge which includes workshops, mentors and Crowdfunding on Thundafund to help them raise more funding for their idea. 

Stream 2 will include the Africa Design Challenge.  This has the aim of equipping youth with the skills to develop integrated solutions in response to City challenges. Some programming skills needed.  You will also need your own laptop. Team entries in groups of 5 will be considered.

Look out for briefings, training, workshops and much more.

To apply for the 2017 Youth Innovation Challenge go to: http://www.sedfafrica.co.za/enterPRIZE

Dates to remember:

16 March: Registration Open for enterPRIZE Challenge

16 April: Deadline for enterPRIZE Challenge entries

1 April: Registration open for Africa Design Challenge

30 April: Deadline for Africa Design Challenge entries

17-19 May: Africa Design Challenge Workshops (shortlisted candidates)

13-14 June: Solution Development day (Part 1)

22 June: Solution Development day (Part 2)

23 June: Presentation Day for Africa Design Challenge

19-20 July: Innovation Summit

20 July: Innovation Challenge Awards

Enquiries: Innovate Durban – email: Innovate.durban@durban.gov.za

Telephone: 031-311-4015

Web: www.sedfafrica.co.za

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SustainableEnterprizeDevelopmentFacility

Article by Fred Felton |   Twitter @fredfelton 

MTN BUSHFIRE 2017 IS COMING

MTN Bushfire, taking place in Swaziland and named Africa’s Top Festival by the BBC, is known as one of the most inclusive and diverse festivals in the world. Entering its 2nd decade, the festival’s commitment to the arts, the environment, and social change is even stronger than ever.

As Africa’s premiere world music festival, MTN Bushfire has always had strong African roots and this year is no exception, with MTN Bushfire proud to announce the triumphant return of Kwaito superstars TKZee.

Congolese performer Baloji, and the Taureg rebel Bombino and the Belgian / South African newcomer Petite Noir are amongst the first batch of artists confirmed to grace the MTN Bushfire 2017 main stage.

Fans of 90’s Kwaito can rejoice in the return of arguably one of the original Kwaito acts TKZee helped to define the era. Made up of three school friends who have all made a name for themselves individually, Zwai Bala, Kabelo Mabalane and Tokollo Tshabalala are BACK with all of their 90’s hits including Take it Eezy, Palafala, Shibobo, and more. Its time to get retro and groove to this distinctly South African sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUmh1t7fSvs

Congolese performer Baloji, is a poet, composer, lyricist/beatmaker, scriptwriter, actor, and video artist. His genre busting music is elegantly poised at the crossroads of African music, rap music, American music (soul, funk, jazz) and even deep house that has its roots in part in the region of Belgium where Baloji grew up.

Baloji means “man of science” in Swahili, but during the colonial period, that meaning shifted to “man of the occult sciences and sorcery.” Regardless – of interpretation, Baloji places his resilience at the center of his work, reconciling all of these influences to enrich his projects. The French singer has achieved international acclaim since the release of his debut album Hotel Impala (2008) and has gone on to perform across the world in over 200 shows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbFPxMo48AA

Taureg music and culture has captured the world’s attention in recent years, and one of its most successful sons is Bombino. Born in the Ifoghas Tribe of the Taureg people, who have long been recognized as warriors, traders and travelers of the Sahara Desert and as people of grace and nobility as well as fighters of fierce reputation, Bombino is the epitome of his people and his culture.

A selfproclaimed rebel, two of his musicians were killed during the 2nd Taureg rebellion of 2017. In exile in Burkina Faso, Bombino’s long journey as a desert blues musician even took him to the United States where he had the chance to record a version of the Rolling Stones classic “Hey Negrita” alongside Stones’ members Keith Richards and Charlie Watts.

Bombino’s first internationally released album, Agadez, was produced by Ron Wyman and released in 2011 receiving worldwide acclaim. His follow up, Nomad, debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Music album chart and has earned rave reviews from top media outlets around the world including BBC World Service, which calls it “utterly, utterly fantastic” and Rolling Stone, which calls Nomad “a perfect match of sound and soul [that] introduces a new guitar hero.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss9Znucx4GM

Petite Noir is a young South African of Belgian and Angolan descent and is a songwriter, producer and musician who defies description. Petite Noir was one half of Popskarr with Spoek Mathambo and was also a member of the music collective Capital of Cool. Since his recording debut in 2012 Petite Noir has created what he describes as "noir wave" or "new wave with an African aesthetic." Petite Noir is one of the most exciting new electronic music artists to emerge from the thriving Cape Town scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XvD1QN3enQ

Every year around 25 000 fans come to this festival.

Will you be there?

For more information, tickets, etc, please visit www.bushfire.com,

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MTNBUSHFIRE

Twitter: @bushfirefest

Review of Brainwavz M100 Earphones

Next Level

This week I was invited to try out the new Brainwavz M100 Earphones.  They have been delicately crafted from aircraft grade metal, contained within are hand crafted drivers constructed of high purity copper voice coil and a feather light diaphragm, which combine to create the M100's high fidelity audio. The wide soundstage, well defined bass and clarity make the M100 suitable for most genres of music.   The earphones fit into a handy hard case which makes for a nice touch.

I tried them out on a variety of devices and formats.  So not only can you enjoy your favourite TV Series in high fidelity you can also enjoy dance music or even classical music with great clarity.  Your mobile phone will love it.   Everything sounds just a little better with these Brainwavz M100 Earphones.   The sound quality is just next level.

The Brainwavz M100 comes with a universal 3-button control built into the cable for both audio playback and microphone for audio calls. As the M100’s have been designed with comfort in mind, the earphones have been meticulously designed to sit comfortably inside the ear canal and for extra and added comfort: a complimentary set of Comply™ Foam tips are also included.

Specifications:

•                     Drivers : Dynamic, 8 mm

•                     Rated Impedance : 32 Ω

•                     Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz

•                     Sensitivity : 110 dB @ 1 mW

•                     Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold-Plated

•                     Cable : Braided 1.3 m OFC Copper

•                     Remote & Mic: 3 Button, Apple & most Android phones compatible.

Included Accessories:

•                     Earphone Hard Case

•                     6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)

•                     1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips T-400

•                     1 Shirt Clip

•                     Velcro Cable Tie

•                     Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

The Brainwavz M100 are available on www.brainwavzaudio.com , www.amazon.com   www.amazon.co.uk  and other authorized Brainwavz resellers around the globe.

For more information, please visit: www.brainwavzaudio.com 

Rating: 8/10

Review by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton