In her matric year, while doing the three-point turn during a driving, the instructor told Natasha Saunders to be moving while turning the steering wheel to change direction; it's easier, he said. This has been the philosophy of this Gqeberha businesswoman ever since. Keep moving. Momentum will help you navigate no matter the direction you are heading in.
Saunders is a mom of three daughters. She trained as an English and Xhosa teacher and did her Honours Degree in Psychology. Training in "soft skills" was her area of expertise. She entered her daughters into a robotics competition in 2013. Here she saw a glimpse of a potential future and did a three-point turn into the world of technology.
Using her knowledge from coaching her daughters in robotics, she offered free classes to boys from a local children's home and wrote a blog on their progress. She shared this with the organizers of the robotics event, giving them feedback and sending photos of the sessions held with the boys. She was identified to run a robotics expo for disadvantaged junior learners in the Eastern Cape because of her work in this project. The project received a grant with five robots and five tablets to run the event. One of the perks of the grant was that Natasha was able to use the equipment for other learners when not allocated for the running of the expo. She started two fee-paying classes for homeschoolers in the city in her home, and that was the start of CodeABot, the robotics and coding centre now based at 120 Cape Road in Gqeberha.
Natasha believes that every experience in life forms who you are, and nothing is wasted. She started out as an English and Xhosa teacher and used the lessons of writing learning material, identifying good resources and motivational learning theories. She added this rich experience to her limited knowledge of robotics and coding. "The learning curve has been incredibly steep for me. At times I took months to research a coding concept to put it into practice. I started taking apart broken appliances like washing machines, juicers and hot pots to learn about electronics. Honestly, at times I had no idea what I was looking at. I would certainly never have been able to put it back together. But, I was gaining confidence in picking up a screwdriver, drill and Dremel tool and just giving it a go. I sat building mechanical toys to understand how gears, cams and pullies work" Out of all this learning came the mechatronic syllabus of CodeABot, where learners between the ages of eight and 18 cover mechanics, electronics and coding using different robots, PLC's and building sets. The focus on hands-on learning is essential.
"When we are little, we need to touch, taste, hear and see to experience and learn about the world around us. At CodeABot, learners get to immerse themselves in experiential learning. The focus is not on gaining a certificate but rather on developing a love for."
Like the rest of the world, South Africa needs to be ready to face and live in the metaverse where AI, robotics, and data will be the norm. "At CodeABot we keep moving so that we can let both girls and boys know that these are skills within their reach. Each skill will become a tool in their hands that they can use to build an employable future in our beautiful country."