Tech Giant Standard Bank Organizes STEAM Hackathon in KwaZulu-Natal
In a significant move to empower young learners in South Africa, Standard Bank Group Technology has partnered with the Kuunda Disrupt Programme and Gordon Road Girls School to launch the STEAM Coding Challenge in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This marks the second major STEAM partnership for Standard Bank Group Technology in the region.
The Kuunda STEAM initiative, as the programme is known, aims to unlock potential, build confidence, and create pathways for learners who might otherwise be excluded from the digital economy. Sershni Govender, Head of Innovation (KUUNDA) at Standard Bank Group Technology, emphasised this point, stating, "The Kuunda STEAM initiative is about fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among our youth, ensuring no learner is left behind in the digital economy."
The Kuunda Disrupt Programme and Standard Bank Group Technology have already made a significant impact, empowering 18 schools in KZN in 2024. This year, the initiative will extend to 21 quintile level 4 and 5 primary schools, engaging 126 learners in a dynamic, hands-on experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).
Each participating school will receive a Raspberry Pi and Microbit kit, and a dedicated technical mentor will guide students through monthly coding modules. The programme is part of Standard Bank Group Technology's broader commitment to bridging the digital divide and nurturing future-ready talent in South Africa.
The STEAM Coding challenge is designed to ignite curiosity and creativity among learners from schools that lack access to IT labs, coding, or robotics education. The initiative is a direct extension of the mission to sustain future technical growth in South Africa by creating a deep and diverse pool of technical talent.
Past participants in the Kuunda Disrupt programme have gone on to win national competitions, introduce robotics as a subject, and secure sponsorships for further development. The culmination of this year's Kuunda STEAM initiative will be a graduation ceremony scheduled for 21 November 2025, where learners will present innovations that benefit their schools or communities.
The success of the Kuunda STEAM initiative is a testament to the impact of partnerships between the private sector, educational institutions, and programmes like the Kuunda Disrupt Programme. Such collaborations are crucial in fostering a digitally literate and innovative youth in South Africa.
For more information about the Kuunda Disrupt Programme, including its history, impact, and future plans, we recommend checking official Kuunda Disrupt Programme websites or social media channels, South African education and technology ministry releases, and reports from organisations involved in STEAM education in South Africa.
- The Kuunda STEAM initiative, a collaboration between Standard Bank Group Technology and the Kuunda Disrupt Programme, leverages AI and digital technology to foster innovation among South African youth, aiming to ensure no learner is left behind in the digital economy.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, Standard Bank Group Technology, through its partnership with schools like Gordon Road Girls School, is using technology to create digital opportunities for young learners, extending its impact to 21 primary schools in KwaZulu-Natal.
- The STEAM Coding Challenge, designed for schools lacking access to IT labs, coding, or robotics education, is an integral part of Standard Bank Group Technology's broader strategy to bridge the digital divide and nurture future-ready talent in the finance sector, leveraging AI and technology for sustainable technical growth in South Africa.
