August has been an exciting and busy month at AIMSSEC, as we hosted computational thinking workshops involving six schools. This time, the workshops were held at Cape Academy in Tokai, giving both primary and high school learners the opportunity to visit a school outside of their township communities.

The workshops took place on the following dates:

• 2 August: Masibambane High School and Molo Mhlaba School
• 9 August: Lavender Hill High School and Levana Primary School
• 30 August: Crestway Secondary School and Lourier Primary School

Learners immersed themselves in computational thinking, working hands-on to modify scripts and create designs from the modified scripts. These activities combined problem-solving, logical reasoning, and creative exploration, and learners were enthusiastic about experimenting with code and seeing their designs come to life. They were keen to ask our visiting data science student from Heidelberg University, Xinyue Cheng, about her life and journey into data science. 

They were also curious about what it meant to attend a school that specialises in mathematics and science. Many were particularly intrigued by the concept of a weekday hostel facility, where learners could live on campus during the week while returning to their families in the evenings.

Events like these highlight the importance of exposing learners to different educational environments, nurturing curiosity, and encouraging learners to dream bigger. By engaging in computational thinking exercises, learners not only sharpened their cognitive and coding skills but also gained inspiration for their academic journeys.

At AIMSSEC, we continue to work towards changing the narrative for township learners, showing what is possible when they are given opportunities to explore, learn, and connect beyond their immediate surroundings. We look forward to delivering two more workshops in September, continuing to spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence among learners.

Thanks always to the dedication of the AIMSSEC team, who sacrifice their Saturdays for learner development.