Codes open safes, remotes open gates and keys open doors. Siyavula opens minds. How? Their trick is education through collaboration. Many schools and pedagogical institutions in South Africa lack resources. Launched by the Shuttleworth Foundation, Siyavula is an initiative that aims to provide teachers with curriculum related material. Since the name Siyavula stems from Nguni and means "we are opening", it's an aptly named initiative that is, quite literally, opening opportunities.

The initiative has struck a partnership with the online site Connexions. The site provides a platform for utilising and sharing "locally relevant, curriculum-aligned content". Connexions is comparable to a community library which helps educators in their struggle with constant challenges, such as insufficient or absent resources and funds. All the material presented on the site is in a user-friendly format, and is published under a Creative Commons license, enabling information to be altered, printed, combined or integrated into the existing curriculum.

Selwan Chetty, Superintendent at the Department of Education, said of the project, "The introduction of Siyavula has definitely got educators excited with the understanding that they now have access to resource material which will assist them in the workplace. More importantly, they see the value in using this process to collaborate and network amongst schools in regions so that the resources can be shared."

For more information visit http://siyavula.cnx.org/lenses/siyavula or register as a user on the site. Alternatively educators can visit the Siyavula website.