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FERH social workers’ first computer lesson
Far East Rand Hospital (FERH) and Veritas College are working hand-in-hand in an uplifting empowerment computer project when classes started yesterday (August 13).
The initiative of social worker Jacobé Botha started recently when she contacted Mary-Ann Pullinger, Veritas College principal, and asked for help in teaching her and her staff how to use a computer.
Her fellow students, Margaret Mashiyane, Thandiwe Ndlovu and Lorraine Sah are all social workers at FERH.
Natasha Moodley, the college’s computer teacher, immediately saw this opportunity as a service to the community and offered her services free of charge.
Their first class started at 2pm on Wednesday, and Natasha mainly explained to them what will be expected of them going forward.
Margaret says they have the resources at work, but do not know how to use them.
Natasha says the main aim of the computer outreach is to give back to the the community.
For Jacobé this is like a dream come true. She says they are still old-school and not computer literate, therefore this project will help them to be more efficient at work.
Lorraine believes this will improve her knowledge.
“The community is under the impression that social workers knows everything and they need to help with everything,” adds Margaret, however, “this is not the case.”
“It always concerned me that I do not have something formal like computer skills, but this will help me,” says Thandiwe.
Modern children have technology to their advantage and this project is going to help these four women to make a difference.
According to Natasha it does not matter how long the course takes, she believes it will take three months, her four learners will have mastered basic computer skills.
These social workers are determined to learn to become independent at the offices.
Although they are scared and do not know how to study and learn anymore, Margaret says this will enable her to help her grandchildren with their homework.
Natasha adds it is never too late to learn.
She has big plans for her adult students and promised them they will receive certificates after completion of the course and they will be fully equipped as far as computer knowledge is concerned.
