Algorhythmlab Digital Awakening with University of Zululand
As Algorhythmlab, one of our main privilege is the ability to work with University of Zululand Computer Sciences’s Second Year Class. Our partnership with University of Zululand Computer Sciences Class has taken a new shape; having started from just educational classes to a more technical approach. As Algorhythmlab, our obsession over the year has been one thing, ‘to produce greatness in some of underdeveloped students of University of Zululand.’ With this approach, we have a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with a department that aims to achieve that goal; our ‘Digital Awakening Programme’ brings uniqueness into this community of students. The Digital Awakening program aims to educate students at University of Zululand about technology, life options and opportunities that exist outside of the university (and both inside and outside of computer sciences). This way, suddenly students are able to notice opportunities around them. Our obsession is one main thing, ‘education, proper education’. That is our reason for introducing the Digital Awakening. Here are some of our bravest Digital Awakening presenters for the year of 2018:
Zamah King McLaw
As a twenty two (22) year young university law dropout, Zamah King McLaw has continuously proven that following one’s passion might be the answer. With three years into law at University of Kwazulu-Natal(UKZN), she understood that she did not enjoy what she was studying at that time. Within her three years at UKZN, Zamah was introduced to a life of partying. Continuously going to these parties, she saw an opportunity in the market, there in Durban, to start a business that focused on promoters. With this introduction, she was determined to see if she could change the game; from just being one of the people who attended events to being part of the events. This is the story of how the now successful McLaw Promotions was born.
Currently studying business and marketing at Boston college in Richards bay, Zamah was keen when requested by Algorhythmlab to come and share with our students her journey. “My parents didn’t understand why I had to dropout. Just this year I was both excited and a little bit sad when I saw some of my classmates graduating” — Zamah spoke to the students during a Digital Awakening. She is currently continuing her business journey while a student of Business and Marketing: she is also a unit manager at Tupperware; brand ambassador of multiple brands(such as Lady Poppy and Wyne’s accessories); a contestant at Miss Zululand 2018; an innovative events Master of Ceremonies (MC); also a founder and director of McLaw Promotions. As soon as her talk was done, students were inspired by her story of perseverance and grind so much that they all wished she could be their mentor .
Langa Zulu
He calls himself ‘The Enlightened One;’ Langa’s life story continues to be an inspiration to youngsters; a musician, entrepreneur, community developer; the truth is there are so many terms of inspiration that anyone can use to describe Langa Zulu, it all depends who you are talking to. Having had multiple studies in multiple institutions, for most parents he could have been regarded as a person who never finishes what they start, but for those who really know him they would understand that if there’s one thing he keeps constant, that is his vision for the future and his community. He studied technical production of live events at South African Roadies Association, this was followed by studies in Sound Engineering Academy of Sound Engineering (SABC) and finally Bachelor of arts: Philosophy and Politics at University of Zululand. He has worked at Icora fm as a radio presenter, Sound Stylists as sounds/lighting technical and currently is a Co-founder and managing director at Algorhythmlab.com
His community work includes(but not limited to:)Secretary General of United Nations Association of South Africa University of Zululand Chapter, where he worked towards sustainable living of University of Zululand poor students, Establishment of Isihlangu Youth Foundation which focused on introducing different types of arts, mainly performance arts to the community and helping nature artistic side of kids across the streets. He finally started LifestyleZa which focused on online content (mainly video) with one aim in mind: To showcase that Africa is not just a place filled with poor people. He constantly fights to showcase the positivity, beauty and uniqueness of Africa through the now Algorhythmlab which was initiated after LifestyleZa was dissolved.
Through out all of this, one gets to understand that Langa Zulu’s vision has remained constant with an addition of transformation and innovation and therefore his current involvement in the Digital Awakening program together with similar other programs.
Cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi
The sitting mayor of King Cetshwayo district municipality which is located in Kwazulu Natal, Richards Bay about 152km from Durban is one of the highly regarded mayors both in Kwazulu Natal together with South Africa as a whole. Leading a municipality that is largely rural, cllr Nonhle Mkhulisi continues to encourage youngsters, women together with older people to embrace and utilize technology as much as they can. We saw this when she directed her office launch King Cetshwayo District Women’s Empowerment Summit which is an annual programme with clear focus to empower, educate and expose its participants to various issues effecting women through robust dialogue and exchange of ideas. This summit had fourth industrial revolution at the center with discussions and dialogues around women involvement in the ICT sector and usage of ICT programmes to further propel women forward into the age of internet.
Her role at Digital Awakening is to challenge students into developing solutions that solve problems across the city and the world using technology. One of the most exciting things about her is that she is keen to learn more about technology so that she does not just talk the talk but also walk it. This clear message energized the students into studying beyond the scope of university and become future entrepreneurs. Her discussions came out as very necessary as not only do they encourage students, but they also reaffirm students into knowing that there are doors open waiting to receive them when they graduate. Either through entrepreneurship or provision of skills as employees in municipalities and companies across Richards bay and Kwazulu Natal.
Mandisa Nomfundo Nxumalo
Another fascinating University of Zululand success story, Mandisa Nxumalo is a masters student in Computer Sciences department focusing on: The development of a Cloudlet Business Model to ensure stakeholders service guarantees. She obtained her undergraduate and honours degrees from the same institution. Upclose, Mandisa is ambitious, energetic, reliable and hardworking individual, who enjoys learning and helping others. She believes in that there’s always a room for self-improvement both personally and professionally. Her ultimate career goal is to become a world recognised researcher under the fields of Mobile Cloud Computing, Data Science and Software Defined Networking Systems, and to work with small and big companies making waves in the networking environment.
Throughout her masters Mandisa has managed to travel the world. She has been to Turkey to attend and present at ICET IEEE 2017, Washington DC, United State of America to present at Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics conferences, to count some of the few travels she has done. Topics she covered at some of this conferences include but not limited to Web-Browsing Patterns for a Customized Service Provisioning on SMEs, An envisaged SLA-based Cloudlet Business Model for ensuring Service Guarantees and Comparative Study for Control Plane Scalability Approaches in SDN Productive Networks. Over and above she has mentored young scientists at Eskom Expo For Young Scientists and contracted for CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) in Pretoria. As if all this is not a mouthful, some of the skills she possess include skills in using artificial intelligence to solve problems(Used artificial intelligence to identify abnormal electricity
purchasing patterns of the customers in the City of Tshwane), and can program in the following languages; Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MySQL Database and Django just to mention a few.
I believe that in order to change the world you have to be the change. It has always been my heart desire and dream to bring change to the development of our people and I make sure that whatever I do and take part in does not deviate me from it. — Mandisa Nomfundo Nxumalo
The Digital Awakening is organised by Algorhythmlab in partnership with University of Zululand. Our partners list for the year of 2018 Digital Awakening included McLaw promotions, King Cetshwayo municipality, University of Zululand Computer Sciences department, PM3SA holdings
Originally published at Algorhythmlab.
