Autodesk and Team4Tech Team Up for Sou Africa Project

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Team4Tech, an organization dedicated to improving education in underserved communities through technology, and Autodesk, a leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software, are partnering on a project in South Africa to improve digital literacy and 21st century education skills. The project team of seven Autodesk volunteers and two Team4Tech staff are working with the Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust (GSDT) in Makupula High School in the Kayamandi community near Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa from August 1-15, 2015.

GSDT focuses on community development and improvement through sustainable projects, which include education, cultural and artistic developments and support for micro-businesses and entrepreneurial skills. Through this project, Autodesk volunteers are providing two weeks of teacher training at Makupula High School on how to integrate 21st century teaching skills with digital content and resources. The volunteers will also engage in community outreach with Vision Afrika, a partner organization of GSDT, by providing a 3D design workshop using Tinkercad, a free 3D design and modeling tool made by Autodesk, and by donating two 3D printers to support Vision Afrika's education programs and broader community use. Team4Tech has made a grant of USD15,000 to GSDT for the purchase of 36 computers at Makupula High School.

Team4Tech serves as a catalyst for change by matching tech industry professionals with accredited non-profit projects that aim to make a difference in the quality of education around the globe. Over the past two years, Team4Tech has deployed over 125 volunteers from 10 technology companies on 13 projects in seven developing countries, reaching over 10,000 students and teachers. Team4Tech volunteers typically work on two-week engagements to support these non-profits on education technology projects.

We are excited to be working with Team4Tech to send Autodesk volunteers to help the GSDT, Makupula High School and Vision Afrika improve the use of technology in the classroom. said Kellan Hays, Employee Impact Manager at Autodesk. This project with Team4Tech aligns strongly with our work to help people imagine, design, and create a better world. As part of this vision, we provide free design software and curriculum for schools, teachers, nonprofits, and Cleantech entrepreneurs. We want to help the Stellenbosch community use design to create positive change and bring their ideas to life through new technology.

Members of the press are invited to join the organizations in person on August 11 at 5:30pm at LaunchLab in Stellenbosch for an educational evening hosted by Edtech-Stellenbosch. Registration and more information can be found here: http://www.meetup.com/EdTech-Stellenbosch/

Members of the press are also invited to attend a special student 3D design workshop with Vision Afrika on August 8. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Stacy Doyle at stacy.doyle@autodesk.com and Noel Durrant at noel@team4tech.org.

About GSDT

The Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust (GSDT) operates from the iKhaya Trust Centre in Khayamandi, a suburb of Stellenbosch with a population of almost 40,000 people. The GSDT aims to bridge material and cultural divides in Stellenbosch. It unites partner organizations such as VisionAfrika, SOS, SEED, AmaZink and the InZink amphitheatre. These organizations manage educational programmes (VisionAfrika) small business initiatives (SEED) and programmes to strengthen exciting community organizations, including programmes that enable business leaders to volunteer time for community organisations within a structured programme (SOS). The GSDT is registered as a trust in South Africa with the Master (Number: IT 23/2002), as a non-profit organization under the Department of Community Development (019-824-NPO), and with the South African Revenue Service under Section 30, and under Section 18A of the Income Act. http://www.gsdt.org.za/

About Autodesk

Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone-from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists-uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.

About Team4Tech

Team4Tech is a registered 501(c)(3) organization established in 2012 to improve education in developing countries through innovative technology solutions. Team4Tech acts as a catalyst for change by matching technology industry professionals, solutions and resources with accredited non-profit projects that aim to make a difference in the quality of education around the world. The organization trains and guides volunteers through project scoping, planning and in-country implementation, and provides them with valuable tools around human-centered design and leadership development through service learning. Team4Tech works to enable better education, better technology solutions, and better leaders. Learn more about Team4Tech at www.team4tech.org.

About Vision Afrika

Learn more at www.visionafrika.com.

LINK:	http://news.autodesk.com/press-release/autodesk-and-team4tech-team-sou...
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