College donates ICT unit
ALEXANDRA - Alexandrians were in jubilant mood recently after receiving an information communication technology [ITC] unit which will improve their engagement with the city.
Alexandrians were in jubilant mood recently after receiving an ITC unit which will improve their engagement with the city council.
The unit, a computer service centre was installed at the Alex Multi Purpose Centre through a partnership with the city council and PC Training and Business College. It has 34 computers fully equipped with internet, wi-fi and other gadgets.
The MMC for Public Safety Sello Lemau said the unit would contribute to the city council’s growth and development strategy and enable the community to participate in the city council’s vision through the establishment IT hubs in townships. He said it would also empower youths and older residents with IT skills, encourage them to extend IT connectivity to their homes, and increase their self-reliance when looking for jobs and in conducting their own personal business. “It will bridge the digital divide, create opportunities for local economic development, improve the standard of living and affirm Joburg’s vision to be a smart city,” he said.
The city council’s regional director Liziwe Ntshinga-Makoro said the project fulfilled the city council’s strategy for partnerships with the private sector. “The unit affirms the college’s commitment to social responsibility regardless of safety issues which discourage others in the private sector from investing in townships. ” she said.
“It shows the college’s understanding of the need for IT skills needed to raise literacy levels in poor communities.” She added that the unit would also be linked to the youth advisory centre and be used for training programmes to empower women.
The college’s CEO Jay Ramnundlall said the unit would contribute to IT skills development and facilitate employment through research and job searches.
He added that they would use the unit to assess other possible projects for the area including running accredited programmes on adult matric literacy, work integrated learning and for vocational and artisan programmes such as plumbing and electrical courses.
