During this winter break, Next Engineers: Engineering Academy Cohort 3 in Johannesburg visited the Kusile Powerplant and aviation sector at SA Airlink. The teams from Kusile and Airlink were very welcoming and accommodating as they received teams from PROTEC, Kutitiva Foundation, and the learners with warmness. Learners got a firsthand look into what it's like to be an engineer, what kind of tools they use in their trade, and what to expect should they wish to take the engineering path.
At Airlink, students spent time with the flight attendants and were informed about the duties of the crew (before, during, and after flights), and even got to test some of the in-flight equipment that they use to carry out their work. Students learned about first aid, firefighting, and handling dangerous goods. They were also taken to view the flight simulators where pilots do their training and even had an opportunity to view the simulator control center. They also went to see aircrafts that were stripped and learn how they are serviced.
Additionally, the Next Engineers: Engineering Camp kickoff was a success! It was a great to witness a very enthusiastic and tenacious group of learners ready to begin their engineering exploration journey. Parents came in large numbers and were very appreciative of this initiative.
The first day kicked off quite well with 100 leaners taking on their first design challenge. We are looking forward to a great week of designs, building, testing and final presentations!
