Nine VMware employees traveled to Diepsloot Township near Johannesburg South Africa in July 2015 to work alongside teachers of LEAP Science and Math Schools. Their project was to inspire the next generation with classroom technology. Each volunteer reflected on what the trek taught them about leadership. Read more about it on the VMware RADIUS blog and follow the VMware Careers Facebook page over the coming weeks for a special series on the leadership insights from each trekker.
Here is a short excerpt from the blog:
In Diepsloot, a township outside Johannesburg, South Africa, the LEAP Science and Maths School is a bright spot in an underserved community. The school, one of six run by the nonprofit Langa Education Assistance Program (LEAP) organization, provides a top-class education for economically disadvantaged students from grades 8 to 12, creating the opportunity for transformative learning and a fulfilling future.
VMware Foundation recently partnered with the nonprofit, sending a team of nine employees on a Good Gig to inspire the teachers and students with the possibilities of technology in the classroom.
An Innovative Approach
Good Gigs is a leadership development program based around immersive service in a small, cross-functional team. The projects, or “treks,” build on the ongoing work of an NGO to accelerate the impact and create sustainable change. Participating “trekkers” learn through this service experience to cultivate a global mindset, expand their experience of diversity, and develop the leadership muscle of reflection.