Full circle for Simphiwe: Inspiring young girls in STEM.

Going back to her district in Limpopo to teach coding was a full-circle moment for Simphiwe Magakwe.

For a young woman in her twenties this is the kind of feeling that she thought would typically only happen to her once she had reached retirement, but then, Simphiwe is not your typical twenty-something.

Having always worked hard at school, the natural thing was to find a study field that would perhaps not be a passion-job but provide financial security for her and her family, and she therefore applied for a BSc in Computing Science at Nelson Mandela University.

“I got into all the universities I applied at, but hearing from the bursaries took time. When I got a call from Nelson Mandela University to say that I received a bursary from Bankseta on merit, I initially thought it was too good to be true. The Department of Computing Science was incredibly supportive, and despite the shift to university, I got a distinction in programming for both semesters of my first year, with no prior coding experience,” said Simphiwe.

The staff from the Computing Science Department also supported Simphiwe throughout her second- and third years, when her mom experienced health issues, and she had to look after her younger brother.

“Some modules fell through the cracks, and I lost my bursary, but the staff in the department pulled together to assist us. My mother and brother moved back to Gauteng in my third year, I continued to stay in Gqeberha and tried to finish my studies. I was struggling with my last module, so I put a pause on my studies for a while. I am officially back this year and look forward to finishing up my studies,” said Simphiwe.

Joining the workforce

Her first job was for a data science company, whereafter she started working for Tangible Africa, where she has been for the past three years. Tangible Africa is an engagement project of Nelson Mandela University Computing Sciences Department and the Leva Foundation non-profit organisation.

While Tangible Africa does work across Africa and the world, they are head-officed in Gqeberha. Simphiwe was invited to join the team by Tangible Africa Founder and Head of the Department and Associate Professor at the Nelson Mandela University Computing Sciences Department, Prof Jean Greyling, who she also regards as one of her mentors.

Along with Jackson Tshabalala, Engagement Manager for Tangible Africa, Simphiwe was one of the first staff members of this incredibly successful organisation which promotes tangible coding through events, additional support and training by making use of Tangible Africa’s flagship coding applications, RANGERS, BOATS and TANKS.

 Simphiwe has grown with the organisation, and is currently in the role of Programme Manager, which among many other tasks involves project initiating and the oversight for all Tangible Africa’s South African projects. This requires planning, execution, financial oversight, problem-solving, and the managing of 15 regional coordinators and overseeing 45 interns in a support and oversight role.

“Every workday is different for me. It involves a lot of meetings - getting feedback, managing projects, handling inquiries from interns and coordinators, speaking with external partners and doing reporting for projects. Currently we have over 40 000 teachers involved in the Tangible Africa programme, and I am also involved in the training of teachers,” said Simphiwe.

While involved with country-wide Master Training in partnership with teachers’ unions and the Department of Basic Education, she was touched to see the impact tangible coding had on the teachers. They moved from fear and anxiety during pre-testing to empowered and realising that they can teach and do coding, after the training.

It was during one of these training sessions at Motjedi Secondary school in the Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo, that Simphiwe encountered some of her former teachers and got to engage with children who were growing up in her hometown.

“They believe they can do it, now that they have seen someone from their area who is managing a project that is changing the national curriculum at schools. Currently I am doing something that I thought I would only experience in retirement.  I basically didn’t sleep in my first year of studies since I didn’t even know what Computer Science was and the struggle of it. I also didn’t know that a kid coming from a public school who didn’t even know what coding was, could manage and create programmes that help other kids,” said Simphiwe.

The power of role models 

Other than Prof Greyling who has supported her journey from the beginning, she also considers another lecturer in the Computing Science Department at Nelson Mandela University, Prof Brenda Scholtz, as an inspiration.

“As a mother of a daughter myself, I believe it is important to see more women in leadership roles within the STEM industry. Girls need to see and hear us, not just behind the scenes, but in leading roles because we deserve to be in the space. I am not in a place where I can say I have made it, but I want to give someone hope and inspire kids to want to make something better of their lives.”

Being surrounded by female leaders, and men who want to open doors for women, has been instrumental in Simphiwe’s growth throughout her career: “I want to change the misconception within the Black community that Computer Science is only for men or a course exclusively for white people’.  Generally being female and black and a person who lives with a disability, this field seemed very impossible. However, I was supported in my journey which has made all the difference”.

Another special role model in her life is her mother, the first person who believed in her.

“In school when I was bullied, I thought it was because of my disability but my mom told me it was because I see the world differently. I am forever curious about everything and realised that I am my own competition. I never look around and compare my life to the life of others – I am competing with myself and creating the best version of me.”

Follow me on LinkedIn: Simphiwe Magakwe