GE Next Engineers has been a wonderful journey since inception last year. At Protec, it has kept us very busy and we are thrilled with the results, as more young people are exposed and encouraged to take STEM subjects seriously in preparation for related careers in the future. This project is a perfect intervention to help build and sustain that momentum. Here below is a summary of key activities we have implemented since we launched, together with our respective schools partners and key stakeholders.
Highlights of our main activities up to July 2022
- The GE Next Engineers Johannesburg City project was launched on the 24th of February 2022.
- The Discovery programme started on the 26th of February 2022.
- The Academy started on the 5th of March 2022.
- The Camp ran from the 10th – 15th of July 2022.
Engineering Discovery
The initial number of learners who planned to attend was 500, however, a staggering 617 learners were accepted and Protec, GE volunteers, and teachers completed 18 sessions in total, with a few more sessions planned through October.
The following 20 schools from the region participated in activities such as Engineering Talks, Demonstrations and Hands-on activities. Dynamic learners who are passionate about Maths and Science represented their schools:
- Lamula Jubilee Secondary (Meadowlands East, Soweto)
- Raymond Mhlaba Secondary (Tshepisong, Roodepoort)
- UJ Metropolitan Academy (Crosby, Johannesburg)
- Diepsloot West Secondary (Diepsloot West, Diepsloot)
- Kelokitso Secondary (Meadowlands, Soweto)
- Kwa-Mahlobo Secondary (Meadowlands Zone 9, Soweto)
- Letsibogo Girls High (Meadowlands East Zone 3, Soweto)
- Lofentse Girls High (Orlando East, Soweto)
- Meadowlands High (Meadowlands East Zone 2, Soweto)
- Moletsane Secondary (Moletsane, Soweto)
- Zifuneleni Junior Secondary (Orlando East, Soweto)
- PJ Simelane Secondary (Dobsonville, Soweto )
- Curtis Nkondo School Of Specialisation (Emdeni South, Soweto)
- St. Barnabas School Of Specialisation in Mathematics (Randburg, Johannesburg)
- Job Rathebe Junior Secondary (Orlando East, Soweto)
- North-riding Secondary (Noordhang, Randburg, Johannesburg)
- Princess High (Roodepoort, Johannesburg)
- Roosevelt High (Franklin Roosevelt Park, Johannesburg)
- Siyabusa Secondary (Slovoville, Kagiso, Johannesburg)
- Southview High (Lenasia South, Johannesburg)
Engineering Academy
50 learners joined the first cohort of the Academy programme, participating in 13 sessions, with more planned for the upcoming weeks. The attendance was impressive, about 96% on average and the activities included: Engineering Talks, College & Career Readines, and Design Challenges.
Strong and dynamic learners represented the following 18 schools in the Engineering Academy:
- Lamula Jubilee Secondary (Meadowlands East, Soweto)
- UJ Metropolitan Academy (Crosby, Johannesburg)
- Kwa-Mahlobo Secondary(Meadowlands Zone 9, Soweto)
- Letsibogo Girls High (Meadowlands East Zone 3, Soweto)
- Meadowlands High (Meadowlands East Zone 2, Soweto)
- PJ Simelane Secondary (Dobsonville, Soweto )
- Curtis Nkondo School Of Specialisation (Emdeni South, Soweto)
- Curro Academy Protea Glen (Protea Glen, Soweto)
- Daliwonga Secondary (Dube, Soweto)
- Florida Park High School (Florida, Roodepoort, Johannesburg)
- Hoerskool Florida (Florida Park, Roodepoort, Johannesburg)
- John Orr Engineering School of Specialization (Milpark, Johannesburg)
- Marlboro Gardens Combined School (Marlboro Gardens, Sandton)
- Matseliso Secondary (Meadowlands East Zone 4, Soweto)
- Morris Isaacson High School (Central Jabavu, Soweto)
- Selelekela Secondary (Orlando East, Soweto)
- Thulani Secondary (Doornkop, Roodepoort)
- Unity Secondary (Daveyton, Benoni)
Engineering Camp
Engineering Camp took place at the prestigious Wits University, which truly brought the best out of our 208 learners, as that is where most of them would study further in the near future. Activities included: Introduction to Engineering, Meet an Engineer, Engineer Your Life, Lab Tours, Design Challenges, and more.
Courageous and focused learners came together for a week, representing the following 25 schools:
- Lamula Jubilee Secondary (Meadowlands East, Soweto)
- Raymond Mhlaba Secondary (Tshepisong, Roodepoort)
- UJ Metropolitan Academy (Crosby, Johannesburg)
- Kelokitso Secondary (Meadowlands, Soweto)
- Letsibogo Girls High (Meadowlands East Zone 3, Soweto)
- Meadowlands High (Meadowlands East Zone 2, Soweto)
- Zifuneleni Junior Secondary (Orlando East, Soweto)
- PJ Simelane Secondary (Dobsonville, Soweto)
- Curtis Nkondo School Of Specialisation (Emdeni South, Soweto)
- St. Barnabas School Of Specialisation in Mathematics (Randburg, Johannesburg)
- Daliwonga Secondary (Dube, Soweto)
- Covenant College (Rispark, Johannesburg)
- Emshukantambo Secondary (Pimville, Soweto)
- Fons Luminis Secondary (Diepkloof, Diepmeadow, Soweto)
- Greenside High (Greenside, Johannesburg)
- Curro Wilgeheuwel (Wilgeheuwel, Roodepoort)
- Greenwood High (Pretoria West, Pretoria)
- Job Rathebe Junior Secondary (Orlando East, Soweto)
- John Orr Engineering School Of Specialisation (Milpark, Johannesburg)
- Lufhereng Secondary (Doornkop, Soweto)
- Matseliso Secondary (Meadowlands East Zone 4, Meadowlands, Soweto)
- Mondeor High School (Mondeor, Johannesburg)
- Progress Comprehensive High (Pimville Zone 4, Soweto)
- Sebetsa-O-Thole-Moputso Secondary (Thulani, Soweto)
Phweeu… It’s definitely a lot of details! We shall pause here and report back on the Key Challenges, Strengths, Achievements and the Way Forward towards 2023 in the next few days. Let’s build the Next Engineers together. Cheers!!
