School holidays can also be a time to learn and be creative using ICT and the Geekulcha crew makes sure of that. High school learners are tasked with real life projects where they use technology and the internet to solve problems and enhance efficiency in public sectors like transport, health and education.

1. #gkVacWork 2016
22 - 01 April - Tshwane | City Deep (Joburg) | Soweto
The Report

2. The Geekulcha VacWork program takes
in a number of high scholars to a real
workplace, and a creativity working
environment, get trained and build
projects with ICT tools.
Youngsters spend their Holidays With
The Geeks. The Geekulcha crew and
community get to redistribute their
skills/knowledge to the young ones.
The program is open for all youngsters from
Grade 11 to grade 6.
What’s This About?

3. The Theme: Smart City Life
This edition of the VacWork will explore how it’s like living in a
Smart City. Youngsters will come up with solutions that brings
about efficiency and make their cities more liveable.
Focus Areas: transport pollution crime information health
disability
What came out:
Scholars have built solutions that addresses their Smart City
Life through mobile apps, web applications, electronics
systems, craftred arts, graphics design and business
development tools.

4. gkVacWork March: Summary
● 3 locations: Tshwane (40), Joburg City Deep (30) and
Soweto (30)
● Scholars from: Joshco, Mamelodi, Ga-Rankuwa,
Atteridgeville, Olievenhoutbosch, Hammanskraal, Jabavu
and Orlando
● 6 Days of the VacWork
● Over 15 mentors in the 3 locations
● 8 Coordinators
● 16 projects presented
● 3 Judges
● 3 Winning solutions
● 2 buses provided
● Over 120 people were part of the presentations

5. Special Case
1. The Taxi Driver (Second from Left) of the scholars from
Stanza Bonza High School decided to use the opportunity
and learn new things from the VacWork program.
Geekulcha welcomed this move and was thrilled to have
him there as one of the participants - developing skills.
2. Soweto scholars opted to make crafts as a way to
prototype their solutions. They were allowed to so in order
to promote Maker momentum.
3. Newspapers and Radio houses called to cover the
VacWork story. Geekulcha team will contact stakeholders
for comments.

6. “The Clever Boys”

7. Execution and Support
The Judges CoT Bus - 6 days transport
CoJ Bus - presentation dayPhoto and videographyFood + braai by TIH
Mentorship

8. Key Activities

9. AMSAT Workshop & Challenge
Mr Nico van Rensberg and Mr Hans from the South African
Amarteur Radio Satellites presented a workshop to the scholars.
The scholars learned, engaged and asked questions to the
presenters. They shown interest onto the radio telescopes and
some consider to follow a career path in relation.
The Challenge: AMSAT gave the scholars to write a story on “what
space means to me”.
Best Essay Winner: Njabulo Sibiya, received some nice items.
Consultation Winners: Brian Madigoe, Lesego Makgola, Zinhle
Boyana and Moses Mhlwana.

10. Atlanta Mayor Visit
The Mayor of Atlanta, Hon. Kasim Reed and his Delegation
through The Innovation Hub, visited the VacWork programme
in Tshwane - 30/03/2016.
Mr Tiyani Nghonyama explained what the programme is about
and then took them through the different groups to see what the
scholars were developing.
His Excellence was impressed with the Innovation that scholars
were coming up with and said, “Man, get’ outta here!”. Some of
the scholars were given business cards by the Mayor’s council
members.
Valuable feedback/comments also given by the delegation.

11. Career Day
Career Day is hosted as part of the VacWork program. Scholars
must understand that they are taught ICT skills just to make them
explore and see it as an enabler in every industry. Industry
leaders came to speak to the youngsters:
● Ms Sihle Dlamini, a creative, founder of Sanctuary Mobile
Spa, Sanctuary Marketing and Events.
● Mr Nyaladzi Mpofu, Audience Manager at Microsoft shared
his Computer Science journey and encouraged scholars
● Ms Nompumelelo Myenza, gave a brief of the Mining industry
as a career option
● Mr Tiyani Nghonyama, a Computer Systems Engineer
● Ms Nyalleng, a Data Scientist from CSIR told the scholars
that it’s all possible

12. Projects

13. Channeling New Companies
F.I.S.R
L_SENSOR

14. Projects (1)
DEE E-Team (Tshwane)
Water management system that
allows helps with water reusability
by purifying water from household
appliances. It’s a web-based with
a sensors to separate clean water
from the dirty water.
V-Taxi (Joshco)
Connect pupils with their taxi
drivers in a digital form. The pupils
will be able to notify the driver
through the app for they are sick,
late or won’t be going to school.
That way the driver knows who to
go pick up and also leave behind.
5th-Quadrant (Tshwane)
NAB: An app that helps increase
the chances of solving a crime by
reducing the time taken to report a
crime. Providing assistance and
report a crime but avoid the
normal paper procedure route.
The GeekStaz (Joshco)
Developed a device (Digital
Sensor Chip) that helps reduce
hijackings occurring in our
everyday lives and give the
owners a peace of mind
F.S.I.R (Soweto)
This website will allow residents
and businesses to take a picture
of an object that needs to be fixed
or implemented and send it to us
through our website, where else
we try to get hold of someone who
will be suitable .
The Young Explorers (Joshco)
Finding and building innovative
solutions to address general
power-cuts and load shedding in
the country. Provides best
information and interactive
solution.

15. Projects (2)
The Clever Guys (Soweto)
A WATCHTOWER is a type of
fortification used in many parts of
the world on which guard or
lookout is stationed to keep watch
as for criminals and built to create
an elevated observation point in
Soweto to fight crime.
GRAPHEEKS (Tshwane)
Designs high quality logos or
upgrade existing ones. Designed
the logos and posters for the
Tshwane teams.
Find a Doc (Tshwane)
An app that helps reduce ques in
hospitals or doctor’s area by
helping you find help easily. Helps
people save money and time.
Easy navigation and informative.
Ethuba Ilenye (Soweto)
Rehabilitation is a healthcare
service with dedication on
improving, maintaining and
restoring physical strength,
cognition and mobility with
maximized results.
School Nerds (Joshco)
Online students may be able to
get print books from their library
mailed to them or use online
reference materials. Students
may not be thinking about these
resources but they could be a key
to success.
Spartans Invasion (Soweto)
Impact for this websites is to alert
people from our communities and
outside the boundaries of our
community give them information
about the events, colleges, job
opportunities etc.

16. Projects (3)
Geek Code Link (Tshwane)
L Sensor is a device that detects
water leakages from pipes that are
impossible for us to see. It
immediately senses leaking pipes
and alerts you.
Bicycle Empowerment (Soweto)
The intention of this project is build
an easy human-powered
generator from used bicycle and
its light but ricity. Also take a huge
focus on STEM development.
EIT (Tshwane)
DOC POCKET solves a problem
of not standing long queues More
or less we’ll be saving you money
because you won’t have to
consult a doctor if you’ve found a
remedy for your disease
Tshwane Tutor (Tshwane)
Matriculants will be offered an
opportunity to study online , and
have a blog/forum which will allow
them to interact with one another.

17. Winning Teams
Third Place: 5th Quadrant Second Place: V-Taxi First Place: DEE E-TEAM
Best Presenters: GeekStarz AMSAT Challenge

18. Social Media

19. The Numbers Reach

20. Activities: Twitter and Facebook

21. Getting Stuff Done

22. Presentations Day
The Presentations
Dressed in formal, scholars had 8 minutes to
present to a panel of judges and to fellow
scholars.
Presentations took place from 11:00 - 16:00
followed by awards ceremony.
Criteria (0 - 5)
The judges judged the solutions based on:
● Innovation (localized)
● Socio-Economic Impact
● Market Potential
● Presentation (delivery)

23. High and Lowlights
Highlights
● Scholars came up with projects in
accordance to the theme
● The mentors were on board throughout
to help
● A good balance of boys and girls
participating
● All projects were at their MVP stage
● Scholars had built their business cases
● 3 solutions are ready for the
Technovation Challenge
● CoT and TIH leadership showed
support
Lowlights
● Soweto VacWork was very under-
resourced
● The presentations started late
● No consolation prizes were given to the
top 3 teams, on the day
● Only one mentor was external
● Some of the speakers did not come
through for the Career Day
● The WiFi was ungovernable and could
not adequately connect to the Think
Tank event in London

24. Where To From Now?
Sustainability
Finding more sustainable models to keep the programme going while striving for more mass
impact. It is of great interest to strengthen relationships with current partners.
Soweto
Geekulcha feels that there is a need to strengthen resources acquirement, skills development
and Tech/Innovation excitation in Soweto for the next 4 months.
VacWork in Kimberley
In July, Geekulcha Student Society (GKSS) will officially launch the VacWork program in
Kimberley for local youth.
Support the Scholars
Through media exposure, invitation to exhibit at various platforms, the scholars will be supported
with the projects including the Technovation Challenge and Hack4Water.
NEXT VacWork Edition: 27 - 08 July 2016, “Modern Workplace”

25. Special Thanks
The VacWork had enough man-power in making everything
possible. Geekulcha would like to extend a thank you to the
following institutions/individuals:
● Key partners: The Innovation Hub, City of Tshwane, mLab
SA, FoE Foundation and Jabavu Youth Centre
● All coordinators from the 3 venues for ensuring best efforts
for success
● All the mentors for transferring skills to the younger ones.
Special thanks to Layyers and EWB-TUT
● Judges on the presentations day
● All the speakers who came through for the career day and
help scholars
● The MC and Stage/Technical manager
● Scholars for waking up everyday and attend the VacWork

26. Resources
1. gkVacWork 2016 Photos
https://www.flickr.com/photos/geekulcha/albums/72157666655873641/with/26141993502/
2. Scholars at Arduino Day SA
https://www.flickr.com/photos/geekulcha/albums/72157664468515973
3. Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZhe2ogkfqo&index=6&list=PLmQ-
AqWKlIK6nVdseHPVK21IpfG4o0UVo
4. VacWork Survey Results https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1alo-IxpXmvGPD-
wKa18hUbLYpCsXfsGntx65uDglroE/pubhtml

27. #gkVacWork 2016
future@geekulcha.com