Latest news with #Horvath
Daily Maverick
7 days ago
- Daily Maverick
From classrooms to climate action: SA's new eco champions lead the way
Across South Africa, a growing movement of student-led environmental action is reshaping schools and communities. Supported by the TUI Care Foundation and Masifunde, young 'Eco Champions' are tackling climate change with creativity, passion, and purpose — turning rubbish into playgrounds, launching recycled materials fashion shows, and proving that youth have the power to lead real change. A quiet revolution is taking root across South Africa's schools. Young people, often overlooked in conversations about climate and community, are becoming passionate eco champions — leading environmental campaigns, organising clean-ups, and inspiring their peers to protect the planet. Brigitta Horvath, programmes manager at the TUI Care Foundation, explains the foundation's vision. Established by the TUI Group as a charitable initiative, the foundation drives sustainable development in tourist destinations worldwide. 'Tourism has enormous potential to positively impact not only the natural environment, but also the livelihoods of local communities,' said Horvath. A key strategic focus is education, particularly empowering disadvantaged youth through the TUI Junior Academy and related programmes. The Junior Academy offers vocational education and environmental training, designed to equip young people with the skills to adapt to a rapidly changing climate. 'In South Africa, climate change is a particularly pressing issue. So investing in education that raises awareness and builds resilience to climate impacts is essential,' she said. Launched in early 2023, the two-year project partners with local civil society organisations, including Masifunde, to reach 200 schools across all nine provinces. About 100 teachers have been trained to support the programme, alongside district officials from the Department of Education who receive hybrid (online and in-person) training. At the heart of the programme are the Eco Champions: motivated students eager to learn about and protect their environment. 'Eco Champions are students who disseminate their knowledge not only within schools, but also in their communities and households. These young leaders catalyse local environmental campaigns and community action projects tailored to the unique challenges of their settings,' said Horvath. From Nelson Mandela Bay to SA Jonas Schumacher, the managing director of Masifunde, shared the organisation's journey from a local initiative in Nelson Mandela Bay to a nationwide effort. 'For the past 20 years, Masifunde has been training change makers in townships and beyond. We work holistically with primary and high schools to nurture active citizenship,' he said. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Masifunde expanded its reach to 50 schools across Nelson Mandela Bay. Their work tackled environmental education alongside social issues like school safety, gender-based violence prevention, and anti-bullying, deeply relevant themes for young people in difficult circumstances. The partnership between Masifunde and TUI Care Foundation blossomed through shared vision and timing. TUI sought to train Eco Champions across South Africa using Masifunde's proven methodologies. Together, they have empowered 40 NGOs, which work directly in hundreds of schools to create student leaders driving tangible environmental projects — from beach clean-ups and community gardens to awareness campaigns and tree planting. 'The goal is to raise awareness about protecting our environment. But more importantly, to help young people see they have agency, that their actions, no matter how small, can make a difference,' said Schumacher. 'We're training Change Makers, children and youth who learn to be active citizens in their communities. Our approach is holistic, covering not just environmental issues, but also school safety, bullying, and gender-based violence.' Choosing the right schools One of the defining strengths of the Masifunde and TUI Junior Academy partnership is its deliberate focus on the schools that need it most, often in communities under strain from economic and social hardship. 'At the heart of the programme is a commitment to reaching the underserved. The national Department of Education is a critical partner here. They identify schools in the most challenging rural, township and peri-urban districts, places where NGOs are scarce, or sometimes nonexistent,' said Schumacher. In regions like these, the need for environmental education intersected with broader systemic gaps, limited resources, strained infrastructure and vulnerable social conditions. Masifunde undertook a rigorous selection and capacity-building process that goes beyond standard training, said Schumacher. Once onboarded, NGO representatives often travel to Nelson Mandela Bay to participate in intensive, hands-on workshops. There, they master the Change Maker methodology, learning not only how to activate young people, but how to embed those lessons into schools and communities through ongoing engagement. Eco Champions Schumacher emphasised that the programme strategically brought school staff and district officials into the fold. 'Teachers, school leadership, and education officials are integral. We want our Eco Champions to have allies inside the system, not just from outside NGOs. That internal buy-in is crucial,' he said. Each participating school selects one or more teachers to act as anchors for the initiative. These educators become vital conduits between the Change Maker programme and the school community, fostering peer learning and sustaining momentum beyond isolated workshops. One of the most powerful moments Schumacher recounts is seeing a Grade 9 learner step up to address their school assembly on climate change. 'It's a complete paradigm shift when a young student stands where a teacher typically commands attention and passionately speaks on environmental issues. That's the ripple effect we strive for,' he said. Linda Zali, the head of training and replication at Masifunde, highlighted the use of peer-to-peer learning and youth-friendly materials to engage Grade 9 learners, who nominate Eco Champions. 'We start with activation workshops in the schools where all Grade 9 learners are brought together and activated as Change Makers. We use youth-friendly materials, like magazines designed specifically on the topic of climate change, working closely with experts to make a complex subject more relevant and interesting for young people,' she said. What follows is a peer-led model that helps build ownership and confidence among learners. 'At each workshop, every class nominates an Eco Champion. These Eco Champions then receive further virtual training from us on how to be Change Makers and about the climate change topic,' said Zali. Rather than simply handing down instructions, the programme encourages these young leaders to develop their own campaigns. 'We don't develop campaigns and give them to learners to just implement. The learners are actively involved in the process of coming up with these campaigns. So already there's a sense of ownership from the start,' she said. This approach also recognises the power of peer-to-peer communication. 'The Eco Champions then roll out the campaigns, not just through formal lessons but at school assemblies, during break times, or through activities like role plays and presentations. Because the message is coming from their peers, it often has a deeper impact,' she said. Zali also emphasised the importance of sustainability. They trained at least one teacher per school, aiming for full buy-in from the school management so that these initiatives didn't happen in isolation. Teachers and district officials were also trained to ensure ongoing support within the educational system. Seed funding from the TUI Care Foundation helps launch school gardens or community action projects, with follow-up funding for the most successful efforts. 'Some projects are one-off clean-ups, but others have the potential to grow into established interventions driven by the youth themselves — it's that organic development we love to see,' said Zali. This empowerment focuses on recognising each child's unique 'superpower' — whether it's storytelling, organising clubs or sports, and channelling those talents for positive community impact. However, the rollout across the vast geography of South Africa is not without its hurdles. Zali highlighted difficulties in quality control and maintaining consistency when so many partners were involved. High staff turnover at grassroots NGOs threatened knowledge retention, but they mitigated this through ongoing virtual training and multiple coordinators. Accessing schools was also a challenge due to timing constraints during holidays, and occasionally some school leaders deprioritised environmental issues over immediate social concerns like bullying. The team addressed this scepticism by linking climate change impacts to recent floods and weather extremes affecting communities right now. Creativity and determination Among the many initiatives sparked by the Eco Champions network, some truly stand out not just for their impact but for the sheer creativity and determination behind them, testaments to how empowering youth leads to unforeseen, inspired solutions. One particularly striking project unfolded right on Masifunde's doorstep in Nelson Mandela Bay. Schumacher recounts the story with pride. 'Our Change Makers noticed an illegal dump site directly in front of a primary school, a place that should be safe for children but was instead littered with rubbish and health hazards,' he said. But rather than seeing only a problem, these young leaders saw an opportunity. 'They didn't just want to clean up the trash one time. They envisioned something far greater: transforming the polluted area into a bike park and a safe playground, a green and welcoming space where children could gather and play freely,' he said. With plans in hand, the Eco Champions approached the local municipality. The idea resonated, and together they began turning a hazardous blight into an asset for the community. Soon, what was once an eyesore filled with debris will become a place buzzing with laughter, activity, and hope. Zali recalled another inventive wave of youthful energy that took a different form. A Gauteng-based school harnessed the power of culture and fun to raise environmental awareness by organising a fashion show unlike any other. What made it remarkable was the clothing. Instead of the latest designer wear, students crafted outfits entirely from recycled materials. Plastic bags, old newspapers, discarded fabrics, all were transformed into creative garments that dazzled peers and teachers alike. 'The fashion show merged a beloved cultural passion with a vital message. It showed students and the community that protecting the environment could be exciting, relatable, and innovative,' said Zali. This intersection of art and activism ignited conversation around the 'five Rs' of environmental stewardship: reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse and rethink. Zali noted that it shifted the idea of sustainability from an abstract concern to a colorful, youthful celebration of creativity and responsibility. Lasting change For Schumacher, Zali and Horvath, youth-led environmental action is not just about projects, it's a movement for climate justice and future leadership. 'It's their future, and while they're not decision-makers yet, they will live with the consequences. Empowering them now shapes conscious, active leaders,' said Schumacher. Horvath echoed this conviction. 'Climate change impacts everyone, and yes, it can be frightening, but education is about inspiring action, not fear,' she said. Looking ahead, the partnership between Masifunde and the TUI Care Foundation aims to culminate in a powerful gathering of young environmental leaders from across South Africa. Scheduled for October, the national learner summit will bring together Eco Champions from all nine provinces for a week of inspiration, learning, and connection. Zali described the summit as much more than just a conference. 'It's an opportunity to galvanise the youth movement we have been nurturing for years. We want these young people not only to celebrate their achievements but to leave the summit empowered with new knowledge, skills, and networks that will fuel ongoing action,' she said. The goal is clear: to spark lasting behavioural change in schools and communities alike, transforming awareness into tangible environmental advocacy. 'We want the learners to become advocates who challenge local leadership — whether in school management, municipalities, or beyond. Their voice should ripple through their communities and inspire others to join the movement,' said Zali. Beyond the summit's immediate impact, Zali emphasised the importance of longevity. 'We want this to be more than a moment in time. The goal is that these youth leaders carry the momentum forward — continuing to initiate projects, mentor new eco warriors, and embed a culture of sustainability,' she said. DM
Mint
28-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
IBM deploys first quantum computer outside the US. Why it matters.
Earlier this week, International Business Machines said that it had deployed an IBM Quantum System Two at a research center in Japan, marking the first time such a device had left the U.S. It was a momentous occasion for the company, which has tweaked its business strategy numerous times since its founding in 1911. This doggedness has helped IBM grow into a quantum heavyweight, culminating in the development of the Heron processor, its best-performing quantum chip to date. 'IBM has been remarkably consistent in hitting its road map goals for building a fully functioning fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029, and this is another step," Mark Horvath, an analyst at research firm Gartner, told Barron's. Quantum computers use subatomic particles like photons and electrons to transmit information. To date, no company has been able to create a fault-tolerant quantum machine, or one that can perform accurate computations even in the presence of errors. IBM's coming Starling system is designed to catch and correct these mistakes as they occur. Horvath pushed back on IBM's assertion that the Heron chip powering the IBM Quantum System Two was 'the most performant quantum processor in the world." There's no objective way to test such claims, Horvath said. However, the processor has improved circuit depth as well as better error rates than previous generations. The IBM System Two will be installed in the RIKEN Center for Computational Science alongside Fugaku, a classical supercomputer, in what's commonly referred to as hybrid model. This approach will allow researchers to advance research on fundamental chemistry problems and other algorithms, IBM said. The company is moving toward a model that blends high performance computing (HPC) with quantum computing, 'which is generally the way utility quantum computing is going," Horvath said. As quantum has an advantage over classical devices on certain problems like optimization or graph coloring, the technologies can work together to solve problems. 'The classical HPC system will work on most of the problem, farming out parts of the work to the quantum computer where it has a chance at a better-than-classical answer, then combining that back with the ongoing HPC system," Horvath explained. 'This is the current way quantum computers are used in most cases." Quantum computers don't consistently show an advantage over classical devices, Horvath conceded. However, 'very compelling developments in noise reduction and error correction" over the past five years have helped machines return accurate results more consistently. The analyst believes these improvements will bring quantum computers into a more widespread use over the next few years. He likened the progression to artificial intelligence, which 'moved very rapidly from a niche technology into a dependable technology in a similar amount of time." Like other companies, IBM's goal is to build increasingly bigger and more precise machines with the hopes this will lead to wide-scale deployment of the technology. Speaking to Barron's earlier this month, Jay Gambetta, vice president of IBM Quantum, laid out the company's vision for quantum dominance. 'We've always focused on what we need to learn to be able to scale," Gambetta said. 'Our secret weapon is that we make a new device every 17 days. You focus on how you can increase the rate at which you can learn, and you get very disciplined at that." IBM hopes to pioneer a fault-tolerant device before the end of the decade. Gambetta is sure the company can meet its target. 'We always had a plan. I finally feel like we have an execution," the scientist said. 'I'm excited to bring this quantum computer into the world.
Mint
28-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
BM deploys first quantum computer outside the US. Why it matters.
Earlier this week, International Business Machines said that it had deployed an IBM Quantum System Two at a research center in Japan, marking the first time such a device had left the U.S. It was a momentous occasion for the company, which has tweaked its business strategy numerous times since its founding in 1911. This doggedness has helped IBM grow into a quantum heavyweight, culminating in the development of the Heron processor, its best-performing quantum chip to date. 'IBM has been remarkably consistent in hitting its road map goals for building a fully functioning fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029, and this is another step," Mark Horvath, an analyst at research firm Gartner, told Barron's. Quantum computers use subatomic particles like photons and electrons to transmit information. To date, no company has been able to create a fault-tolerant quantum machine, or one that can perform accurate computations even in the presence of errors. IBM's coming Starling system is designed to catch and correct these mistakes as they occur. Horvath pushed back on IBM's assertion that the Heron chip powering the IBM Quantum System Two was 'the most performant quantum processor in the world." There's no objective way to test such claims, Horvath said. However, the processor has improved circuit depth as well as better error rates than previous generations. The IBM System Two will be installed in the RIKEN Center for Computational Science alongside Fugaku, a classical supercomputer, in what's commonly referred to as hybrid model. This approach will allow researchers to advance research on fundamental chemistry problems and other algorithms, IBM said. The company is moving toward a model that blends high performance computing (HPC) with quantum computing, 'which is generally the way utility quantum computing is going," Horvath said. As quantum has an advantage over classical devices on certain problems like optimization or graph coloring, the technologies can work together to solve problems. 'The classical HPC system will work on most of the problem, farming out parts of the work to the quantum computer where it has a chance at a better-than-classical answer, then combining that back with the ongoing HPC system," Horvath explained. 'This is the current way quantum computers are used in most cases." Quantum computers don't consistently show an advantage over classical devices, Horvath conceded. However, 'very compelling developments in noise reduction and error correction" over the past five years have helped machines return accurate results more consistently. The analyst believes these improvements will bring quantum computers into a more widespread use over the next few years. He likened the progression to artificial intelligence, which 'moved very rapidly from a niche technology into a dependable technology in a similar amount of time." Like other companies, IBM's goal is to build increasingly bigger and more precise machines with the hopes this will lead to wide-scale deployment of the technology. Speaking to Barron's earlier this month, Jay Gambetta, vice president of IBM Quantum, laid out the company's vision for quantum dominance. 'We've always focused on what we need to learn to be able to scale," Gambetta said. 'Our secret weapon is that we make a new device every 17 days. You focus on how you can increase the rate at which you can learn, and you get very disciplined at that." IBM hopes to pioneer a fault-tolerant device before the end of the decade. Gambetta is sure the company can meet its target. 'We always had a plan. I finally feel like we have an execution," the scientist said. 'I'm excited to bring this quantum computer into the world.
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Telegraph
Schoolgirl repeatedly raped by three men ‘wanted to die', court hears
Speaking during their trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Prosecutor Hannah Llewellyn-Waters told jurors the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been 'used, abused, and discarded like trash'. She said: 'She was passed around and treated effectively as a receptacle for their own sexual gratification, and the defendant's conduct was callous, degrading, and entirely exploitative.' 'Screaming in the middle of the night' Speaking after the guilty verdicts, the girl's mum said: 'She doesn't want to do anything now. 'She doesn't leave the house without me, her dad, or his dad. She won't go out of the house other than that. 'She dragged her mattress into our bedroom when she was found. She slept in my room. 'She'd wake up crying and screaming in the middle of the night.' When the girl was first found, she initially claimed she had 'walked to Folkestone and back'. 'A completely different child' But once she was safely home, she broke down and told her parents what had really happened. 'She was absolutely terrified,' her mum said. 'Telling me that she wanted to die. 'She went very withdrawn – a completely different child.' Turtak claimed she had lied about her age, and said he, Horvath, and Gunar would never have spoken to her if they had known she was 12. 'She's been incredible' But jurors convicted him of rape of a child under 13. He had already pleaded guilty to taking indecent photos of a child. Meanwhile, Horvath, who had previously pleaded guilty to three charges of rape of a child under 13, and one charge of assault by penetration of a child under 13, was also convicted of sexual assault of a child under 13. Gunar, who previously pleaded guilty to one charge of rape of a child under 13, was convicted of a further two charges of rape of a child under 13. Horvath, Turtak, and Gunar have been remanded in custody until their sentencing on Sept 12. The girl's mum said: 'She just wants her justice now. I am so proud of her. She's been incredible.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hernández: Cowardly Dodgers remain silent as ICE raids terrorize their fans
As part of their Pride Night celebration, a Dodgers official received a commemorative scroll from Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath before the team opened its three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. 'It is truly my pleasure to be celebrating Pride with the Dodgers,' Horvath said. 'Especially a time like this to have the Dodgers look at our community and see all of us, and celebrate everyone, especially our LGBTQ community, it is just so incredibly special.' In almost any other time, Horvath's presentation would have inspired, well, pride — specifically, pride in how the Dodgers started celebrating Pride Nights when they weren't commonplace in sports. On Friday night, however, with many parts of Los Angeles terrorized by large-scale immigration sweeps, the county supervisor's words evoked an entirely different range of emotions. Read more: Fears of ICE raids upend life in L.A. County, from schools to Home Depot parking lots Demonstrations against the federal raids have been staged in downtown for more than a week, but the Dodgers have remained silent. Angel City FC and LAFC released statements sympathizing with the residents experiencing 'fear and uncertainty,' but the Dodgers have remained silent. If the Dodgers really see everyone, as Horvath suggested, they're ignoring what's happening right in front of them. Literally. The Dodgers boast that more than 40% of their fan base is Latino, but they can't even be bothered to offer the shaken community any words of comfort. How ungrateful. How disrespectful. How cowardly. Don't expect this to change. 'We're not going to comment,' Dodgers executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen said. Considering what's happened in the last week, do the Dodgers regret visiting President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this season? 'We're not going to comment on anything,' Rosen said. When the Dodgers announced they accepted Trump's White House invitation, team president Stan Kasten claimed the decision had 'nothing to do with politics.' Kasten sounded as if he was counting on the fans to give the team a pass for visiting an aspiring tyrant, either because their love of the Dodgers overwhelmed their disgust for Trump or because they lacked the intellectual faculties to connect Trump's racist rhetoric to real-life consequences. Read more: Hernández: Dodgers visiting Trump's White House goes against everything they represent But what were once abstract concepts proposed by Trump and other right-wing extremists are now realities, and these realities have struck Los Angeles particularly hard. The detention of working immigrants outside of Home Depots. The breaking up of families. The racial profiling that has resulted in law enforcement harassing American citizens. The propaganda campaign to portray the largely-peaceful demonstrations as an insurrection. The invasion of federal troops. The general feeling of unease that has swept over the city. The team had said nothing about any of this. Manager Dave Roberts, the franchise's designated public-relations meat shield, was the only person to acknowledge the situation. 'I just hope that we can be a positive distraction for what people are going through in Los Angeles right now,' Roberts said on Monday in San Diego. The Dodgers are once again asking a significant portion of their fans to look the other way, but how can they look the other way when these developments affect many of them directly? All because the Dodgers are afraid of offending the 32% of Los Angeles County voters who cast their ballots for Trump in the most recent presidential election, many of whom don't expect ICE agents to ever show up at their workplace. The Dodgers have abdicated their social responsibilities, and in doing so, they have once again let down many of their most loyal fans — the fans who made the Dodgers a part of their family because of Fernando Valenzuela, the fans who passed down the love of the team to their children and grandchildren, the fans who wear their merchandise around town. That won't stop the likes of Kasten and Rosen from reaching into their pockets, of course. A couple of hours before their team's 6-2 loss to the Giants on Friday night, a commercial featuring an upcoming promotion was shown on the Dodger Stadium video scoreboard. The promotion: Valenzuela's bobblehead night. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
