Empowers Africa lays a “digital” foundation for a group of young rural women

In June 2014, Empowers Africa made a grant to Good Work Foundation to sponsor 6 students to complete their ICDL qualifications and after 12 months of hard work these pupils recently graduated with their certificates! The International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) is a globally recognized computer literacy program. Good Work Foundation’s vision is to lead a sustainable model of learning that can be introduced to rural African communities. The model focuses on delivering “digital-era” literacy education and career training via community-driven digital learning centers of excellence.
Below is a write-up and thank you from Good Work Foundation.

A Mini-Revolution in Rural Africa Paves a New Road for Women in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Powerful. That is the modern African woman. The one who is sole caregiver to her younger siblings and her grandparents? The one who is a single parent? The one who needs to rebuild the fabric and foundation of family and community? The one who needs to overcome redundant stereotypes and step up – she is the leader of the next generation. Often she just needs a little “leg up.”
Six young women at Good Work Foundation’s (GWF) Hazyview Digital Learning Centre (HDLC) have been studying this year thanks to bursaries (and a leg up) from an organization called Empowers Africa. These women are sponsored to study in programs that are built to “bridge” them into the future: The ICDL or International Computer Driving License, Food and Beverage Management, as part of online hospitality training, as well as an English for Access, abet-aligned standard English literacy course.

Progress:

“It hasn’t been easy, because I only learnt how to use a computer when I came to HDLC. We had no computer classes in high school and accessing the Internet was through my mobile phone. GWF changed that as I now have access to a computer with internet connection and I am on a mission to ready myself for a future with many opportunities.” said Thandazile Ngwenya, who believes that one day she will be a qualified Front Office Manager for a major company.

Enjoying the journey?

Not every student is thinking “career” only. Girly Khoza is one of our Empower’s Africa students who have been inspired to use this year as an opportunity. “I want to graduate from High School,” says Girly. “This year has given me the confidence to do that. And when I am finished that, I will have my Matric certificate and three internationally recognized qualifications from GWF.”

Future endeavors

The “girl power” message is loud and clear. Each one of these women is proud to be part of a community and organization that is encouraging women to pursue digital learning. That “feeling” is something new to this part of the world. It’s not “in your face” and it certainly doesn’t exclude young, ambitious men. But it’s there none-the-less: a mini revolution. In this village, it’s the women applying for bursaries, the women who are embracing “digital” and it’s the women who are – for the first time – growing into a formidable group of leaders.
So thank you Empowers Africa. Each one of these six women will be graduating this year, and each one’s success will ripple out: to a family and community that respects what each one of them has done. When people look for the “leg up” and you give it to them, and they jump high, for all to see … that’s inspiring.
For more information please visit www.goodworkfoundation.org