SAN FRANCISCO, April 4, 2016 — Team4Tech and Autodesk announced today that a new team of staff and volunteers will return to South Africa this April to implement tailored training and technology solutions for teachers and students from the Kayamandi Township. In partnership with the Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust (GSDT), 10 international volunteers will provide 45 hours of tailored coaching for 30 teachers, to improve student engagement and learning outcomes in the underserved community.
Local gatherings open to press will be held in Stellenbosch on Saturday, April 16 at 9:00 a.m. and Tuesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m., with details below.
“The Team4Tech approach is unique because we pair volunteers from relevant technology companies with nonprofit organizations to deliver meaningful impact to their programs,’ said Dawn Kwan, program manager, Team4Tech. “We’re excited to continue our work with Autodesk and Makupula High School,and to expand our outreach to Kayamandi Primary School and Stellenbosch University.”
This year’s initiative builds on the successful South Africa project in August 2015. Training will be supported by Autodesk software and 3D printers, as well as the mobile computer lab that Team4Tech installed last year. Autodesk volunteers will work with local teachers to integrate project-based learning and technology into lesson plans so students can hone their 21st century skills, which include critical thinking and creative problem-solving. The team will also conduct an Autodesk Fusion 360 training workshop for engineering students from Stellenbosch University.
“The collaboration with Team4Tech and Autodesk was a high-impact, high-energy project, and it has since sparked many further projects and collaborations. We are very happy to expand and grow our partnership to create sustainable impact within the community,” said Moija Van Zyl, project manager, Eduvate, program of GSDT. 
Members of the press are invited to join a 3D hands-on design workshop at Vision Afrika, and to learn more about this initiative at the EdTech Stellenbosch Meetup:
(1) Student 3D design workshop at Vision Afrika
· Date/time: Saturday, April 16, 2016 @ 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
· Venue: Vision Afrika, 118A Masithandane Street, Kayamandi, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa
· RSVP: [email protected]
· Follow us on Facebook
(2) Meet the team from Team4Tech, Autodesk, GSDT, Eduvate and Vision Afrika
· Date/time: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 @ 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
· Venue: LaunchLab, Hammandshand Road, Stellenbosch, 7600,
South Africa
· Details: www.meetup.com/EdTech-Western-Cape/events/228843492/.
About Team4Tech
Team4Tech is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving education in underserved communities through technology. Team4Tech serves as a catalyst for change by matching technology industry professionals with accredited non-profit projects that aim to make a difference in the quality of education around the globe. Over the past two years, Team4Tech has deployed over 166 volunteers from 15 technology companies on 18 projects in seven countries, reaching over 28,000 students and teachers. Learn more about Team4Tech at www.team4tech.org.
About Eduvate and The Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust
Eduvate is a program within the Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust that focuses on innovative classroom projects in the Greater Stellenbosch area.
The Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust (GSDT) focuses on community development and improvement through sustainable projects, which include education, cultural and artistic developments and support for micro-businesses and entrepreneurial skills. The GSDT aims to bridge material and cultural divides in Stellenbosch. For more information, visit www.gsdt.org.za/.