You may recall in early September days, Dr Mzamo Masito left us with the powerful phrase: “The desk is a dangerous place to view the world” as part of the Beyond Umuzi series. We’ve carried that powerful phrase with us, well into October and beyond…
With quarter three well in our dusts, it feels like this community has embodied that wholeheartedly! We are taking a step back and looking at the world from every perspective except the desk. We are attending conferences, getting in touch with nature, visiting our partners, getting sunshine, working on our Dezemba bodies, watching anime on Friday’s and hearing from industry professionals.
We are gearing ourselves towards a future that is good for us, good for others and good for the world.
This is definitely not a terrible way to spend our lives, neh chommies?
Take a break, a moment ~ a breather ~ and revel in this last quarter of excellence, with some wins from our beautiful community.
Cohort 36
On the 19th of October we held on online closing ceremony for our C36 superheroes. It was a glorious moment, shared by the stars of the show, the Umuzi team and our partners Strider Tech and Equal Experts to commemorate the end of their learnership. Keep reading to see who’s landed what since finishing their journey!
Cohort 38
The creative crew! C38s have just entered the product team phase of their journey, working with an external mentor on real life briefs with real life clients! From apps to help your toddler get into a routine to something your Baby Boomer funcle can use and enjoy, this cohort is proving to be unstoppable in their quest to creatively solve real world problems through their innovative designs and we love 2 👀 it!
E4
This do be our Parent cohort! When discussing energy, what we really mean is THIS employed group of learners from Capitec. Through a partnership with their employer, these learners have just embarked on a Java upskilling journey - to foster growth within their current roles and wherever they’re headed next. More life, more Java! ☕
Keep your eyes peeled for the new kids on the block, as on the 1st of November we’ll be graced and with our latest cohort - C41!
Cohort 37
The firstborns! This is the first cohort to break into the Umuzi Community in 2023 and they came in fresh and ready to learn! The journey has been tough but they’re getting tougher as they pass the midpoint of their journey. Both the Techies and UI/UX Designers are skilling all the way up!
Cohort 39
June was chilly but C39 brought the heat as we welcomed them to the community! Just 3 months into the programme and we’re seeing the work you’re putting in. The techies are doing their thing and the BA’s are in the advanced upskilling stage.
Cohort 40i
Our first ISA cohort is currently involved in a range of activities. This group of skilled web developers is on a path to excellence, while also participating in leisure activities such as football and chess. They encounter numerous challenges while improving their skills, but they have been able to overcome them. The team consists of individuals with diverse abilities and talents, and they have collaborated with Wafunda, a platform for developing technological solutions using existing expertise.
A2
Our A2’s are full steam ahead, with most learners almost done with their second year syllabus (React Native). In early November they’ll take a BBD assessment and things are only looking up from there!
FROM WORK EXPERIENCE TO EMPLOYMENT EKSE!
An Inglorious Umuzi Shoutout to these legends for securing the bag, and being retained by one of our partners after their 3 months of work experience.
JUNIOR TECH LEADS
Maybe you’ve heard of our JTLs in the tech team, maybe you haven’t. Either way, these legendary humans go the extra mile in their team by not only holding space for their own upskilling journeys, but by working with other learners as mentors, scrum masters, code reviewing fiends and a whole lot more. Get to know some of our Umuzi JTLs below.
“Being a JTL has been extremely rewarding, from becoming a helpful hand to seeing people's cards fly from [Tilde] backlog to review, then to review feedback and [finally] to complete!”
“In the beginning it can be challenging to manage your time as a JTL but after 2 - 3 weeks you will adapt, its a great way for us to build our communication and time management skills.”
“As a JTL, I help learners plan their tasks, resolve blockers, and offer assistance where I can. I've recently taken on an additional role where I'm helping a fellow learner (Buddy) who's facing some challenges with problem-solving and their projects.”
“Some of the key aspects of my experience include growth from helping others, an increased sense of responsibility, and the opportunity to develop emotional intelligence from working with more people. One of the most rewarding has been the opportunity to assist other team members.”
“The act of teaching forced me to distill complex concepts into simple, understandable terms, which enhanced my own understanding and communication skills.”
LEARNERS MAKING MOOOOOVES
As far as shoutouts go (and that’s pretty damn far in our experience), we’re shining the light on the following human beings for doing the things and more - not because they have to, simply because they can.
Hlobile is killing the coderbyte game that many of us know but do not love! Word on the street is that she’s getting over 90% for most of them, on top of joining the programme three months late!
Jacky completed his entire javascript syllabus within 6 - 7 months of his time here
Lindo polished off his java syllabus in record time and assisted his colleagues so they too can do the things! We love that. Collaboration is always better than competition.
Mlondolozi completed 65% of the java syllabus in his first 3 months at Umuzi
Thulasizwe completed his React Native syllabus within 6 months of starting the internship and is busy with additional projects at the moment, as well as filling the role of JTL. That’s badass.
Zinhle has been sharing online workshops with members of C39 to join in during their free time and learn or sharpen new skills. Talk about women in tech…
OFFERINGS FOR LEARNERS
You’ve heard it all before but we’ll say it again, remote work can be hard. Both the assumptions and the insights are giving feelings of disconnect, isolation and (dare we say) bad posture… We’re working hard at launching micro communities to find some outside-of-work connection with community members across the organization. Find something you love or want to love, and get involved.
And if you don’t see something you love, get in touch with Sarah and make it happen! The opportunities are infinite.
⚠️ 💰WE HAVE A FINANCIAL WELLNESS COURSE LAUNCHING MID NOVEMBER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WORTH. STAY TUNED.
We have had some amazing people share some incredible stories with us through Beyond Umuzi and our Tech Talks. They’ve shared some nuggets and dropped some gems that have really stayed with us - Mzamo case in point.
If you didn't get a chance to catch any of the talks that happened recently, grab your favorite beverage and some killer snacks and take a break and catch up.
Spotted: C37 Collective migration outside to spend the last 5 minutes of a session getting sun and touching grass 🌿 Reminder to do nice things in and amongst your work day cos you worth it.
What’s Your Story?
A glimpse into the life of Ntuthuko Sokutu
Umuzi Identity: C40i Web Development
If you’re active on the Umuzi Academy whatsapp group, maybe you’ve stumbled across the writing wonder of Mr Ntuthuko, who’s been sharing his medium articles reflecting his journey at Umuzi and beyond. We were so damn blown away by this initiative we figured who better to step into the spotlight for a young learner feature.
“Hi. I am Ntuthuko Sokutu. I’m into all things music, technology and finance related. I’m a die hard Chelsea supporter, and thank the heavens for that because they really have been trying to kill me for the past year or so. I can’t really say much about myself but I do think I’m a reflection of the music I listen to the most. So I compiled a playlist for anyone interested in getting a glimpse into my mind.”
He writes [beautifully] about life. He writes about coding. About Design Thinking. About Failure. About its importance. He writes, family. He. Writes
Serotonin via in-person tings!
Speaking of the everywhere-but-the-desk perspective…
A2 & C37 at BBD Software’s ESC@PE conference
C38 at Old Mutual
C39 at Momentum DigiFest
It’s giving skills development, but it’s also giving connection, networking, community, opportunity, passions and fun. We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world, and we’re hoping you wouldn’t either.
Listen, I mean it when I say, if you feel like this community is lacking something, speak up and share your perspective. We’re shifting, evolving and growing in accordance with the needs put forth by the people within, and if you’re not feeling that magic, then step into my proverbial office and let’s talk about it.
K, love you, bye.
And remember:
The Desk is a Dangerous Place to View the World.