The Innovation Hub has partnered with the City of Tshwane to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics closer to the youth especially those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. The youth initiatives developed through the partnership are FabLab which will be launched on Monday, 23 June 2014 at The Innovation Hub; eKasi LABS will be launched on Friday, 27 June at the Ga-rankuwa Arts & Crafts Centre; and the Kusile Mobile Labs will be distributed between the 23 and 27 June at various schools.
There is currently a shortage of skills in these sectors and one of the major causes is the inaccessibility to the facilities that allow young people to engage and explore. These youth initiatives offer a pragmatic solution to the highly inflated number of unemployed youths as entrepreneurial mentorship is offered as well as workshops to guide them on the process of commercialising an innovation.
A FabLab, which is an abbreviation for fabrication laboratory, is a miniature factory for digital fabrication where prototypes can be created and will be strategically located at The Innovation Hub as it is the first accredited science and technology park in Africa.
eKasi LABS which will be piloted at the Ga-rankuwa Arts and Crafts Centre in an area that can be easily accessed by the broader community where young people will create tangible solutions that address their community's problems.
Kusile Mobile Science Labs are an innovative and cost-effective solution to the inadequate science laboratories available in primary and secondary schools which were designed and manufactured by local entrepreneurs from Kusile Labs & Technology and will be distributed at various local disadvantaged schools throughout the week from the 23 June.
Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said Tshwane is a progressive city that works towards igniting excellence and has demonstrated its readiness to introduce research and innovation in its operations.
"Our involvement in the innovation journey has seen us embrace digital technologies and includes a range of measures designed to facilitate access to connectivity. We owe it to the youth of 1976 to initiate programs that would liberate today's youth from socio-economic segregation. I am glad that the introduction of the FabLab and Ekasi Labs will be the entry point into the exciting world of entrepreneurship, mathematics and science," said Ramokgopa.
"One of the challenges faced by young people and budding entrepreneurs wanting to utilise facilities and services available at The Innovation Hub is access to our services as it is located in an area that is relatively inaccessible owing to the distance travelled as well as cost of transportation. This partnership was conceptualised from a strategic decision to 'take innovation to the people' by establishing co-creation spaces that will foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurial activities that better the lives of the community and create wealth," explained McLean Sibanda, CEO of The Innovation Hub.
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