Donate a book at the IT Personality, Visionary CIO awards event
A primary school in Limpopo will receive a donation towards building a library and everyone attending will bring a book - a small token with a potential to make a huge difference in a child's life.
There will be more than two winners at this year's IITPSA President's Awards, to be held at the Hilton Hotel, on Thursday 12 November 2015.
The much-anticipated IT Personality and Visionary CIO winners will be chosen out of the top five finalists. The third winner will be the Matangari Primary School in Limpopo, which will receive a portion of the event's proceeds to build a library.
"This is where the journey began for the 2014 Visionary CIO, Tshifhiwa Ramuthaga, and she wanted her school to have a library," says Ulandi Exner, IITPSA President. "We are delighted that this event - a celebration of SA's top talent - will make this possible."
Besides the R50 000 that will be donated to the school, everyone attending the IITPSA President's Awards event will be asked to bring at least one book for the library, adds Exner. This small token will provide the learners with endless benefits, which will make a difference in their lives. Reading will help with expanding their knowledge and vocabulary and improving their focus, concentration and memory. In addition to these benefits, the library will provide a safe haven for the children.
Established in 1921, Matangari Primary School is located at Matangari Tshitakani in the Limpopo Province. Its first classrooms were built with mud and bricks, and learners were taught in multi-grades. Four modern classrooms were built in 1960, and today, the school has 550 learners from Grade R to Grade 7, 14 educators, 22 modern classrooms, a computer lab, boreholes with running water and its own security. This library will be a much-needed and very welcome addition to the school's facilities.
The library will be named after MC Daba, principal of the school from 1983 until 2012, who was an icon of the school, says Ramuthaga. "He inspired the teachers and learners to work hard, and he put the school on the map - the school is the pride of the district and the province."
The library will benefit not only the primary school kids, but also the local secondary school's students," adds Ramuthaga. "There are talks of bringing connectivity to the school, once the library is in place."If you do not have an age-appropriate book to donate, no worries - you will be able to buy one, or many, at the Exclusive Books pop-up store at the event.
The awards
The annual IITPSA awards are presented by The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa in association with ITWeb, the Gordon Institute of Business Science and Gartner Africa.
The IT Personality of the Year Award, now in its 37th year, recognises the people who are doing outstanding work by growing successful IT businesses, creating jobs and developing skills, while fostering entrepreneurship and innovation and aiding local communities.
The Visionary CIO Award, now in its 7th year, recognises an executive who heads up ICT strategy in an organisation and has demonstrated visionary leadership in using technology to support, grow and transform business.
The IITPSA President's Awards event is attended by leaders from corporate business and government, as well as influential people from the SA business and ICT community. It allows businesses and individuals to demonstrate their support for the finalists, the ICT industry and the advancement of the ICT profession and entrepreneurship in SA.
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