It is #followfriday and we would love to introduce you to our #schoolnetsa Executive Director and fearless, loved leader, Omashani Naidoo.
Omashani has been a force of nature in the ICT arena of our country, and have been an integral part of the SchoolNet family for the past thirteen years. She started off as the operations manager and embraced her role as a protective mother hen to the staff while making sure that everything always runs smoothly and super efficiently. She always has your back, but also demands that everybody gives their best, all the time!
Making sure that teachers, learners, and youth reach their full potential in a digitally challenging world, is her passion. Apart from leading SchoolNet, she is also a master trainer for Microsoft, Google Education, Adobe, and Intel, is the IEARN Country Coordinator, and an inaugural Global Intel Visionary. She was nominated as a finalist in the Woman of Stature Awards for 2020.
She has spearheaded so many ICT integration projects over the years, so we asked her which one has been her favourite. She answered:
“We had many digital projects since SchoolNet started and they have all been worthwhile and making a difference and these range from basic skills for teacher development programmes to empowering unemployed youth. If I had to choose from our current projects it would have to be Telkom Connected Schools Project. This is the first of its kind programme that seeks to support learners, teachers, youth and parents within a digital infrastructure, dealing with digital integration, psycho-social development, technical support and ultimately gainful economic activity.”
On top of being an exceptionally inspiring leader for SchoolNet, she is currently completing her Masters in ICT Education. Her mission for this year is to stimulate digital learning through thought leadership and to improve the support SchoolNet provides to our teachers, communities, and out-of-school youth.
We are proud of her and appreciate what she does and means to all of us. You can #followfriday her on Twitter (@Omashani) or on Instagram (@omash_n)
