High hopes for Kromdraai’s future leaders
The possibility of an information centre can change the lives of hundreds of children living in rural areas.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/10/IMG_8632_76202.jpg)
They want to build an information and internet café, right at the rural doorstep of Kromdraai’s future leaders.
Bokamoso, a non-profit organisation in the heart of Kromdraai, serves over 300 orphaned and vulnerable children along with 100 HIV/Aids patients in the Kromdraai and Honingklip areas. Now, they have come up with a possible solution to unemployment, which roams far and wide in the areas they serve.
Thabang Modisakeng from Junior Chamber International, an non-profit organisation of young active citizens all over the world, and Podesta Letsoko, Bokamoso’s project manager and founder, want to open an internet information centre.
“It costs young people taxi fares into town and back to be able to use the internet and look for jobs. We want to be able to provide them with the opportunities to see how big the world is and inspire them to take on the world,” Thabang said.
Podesta agrees, and said when she left her day job in order to become a full-time charity worker, she simply wanted to make others, especially young children’s, lives better.
“We not only want to give them free internet access, but also train young adults and children with computer literacy skills,” Thabang added.
![Bokamoso's project manager, Podesta Letsoko, gave up her day job so that she could change others' lives instead.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/10/IMG_8645_17229-520x390.jpg)
If prospective employees are computer literate, they might stand a change to be offered a job or land an important interview, he explained.
Bokamoso, which means future in Tswana, is a place where the community is served by about 40 volunteers since 2009. The centre is based in mobile asbestos buildings on a plot. Yet, finance has always been a problem and is the cause of the constant struggle Podesta faces while trying to keep Bokamoso running. And the need for their help is ever greater.
“More and more people suffer everyday while we try and get funds,” she said.
We want to bridge that divide of access to information in rural areas, but of course, we need to be able to pay for it.
Thabang and Podesta plead to business owners and the community alike to help them build the information centre they believe will change the lives of many young people.
If you would like to help, contact Podesta on 074 488 7023 or 071 699 0984.
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