Training Will Open Doors, by Lesley Stones
Friday, June 10, 2005
A project billed as the largest technology training programme yet run in rural Africa has come to an end with 96 students graduating in Mogalakwena.
The students completed a year of training at a technology-oriented community centre sponsored by Hewlett-Packard (HP).
During the year they helped to launch an open-source software centre, built their own websites, developed their own business plans and were trained as call-centre agents. The mixture of skills is designed to prepare the students to work in a variety of information technology-related professions, or to start their own businesses.
Some will now be employed by Limpopo province, the Shuttleworth Foundation and HP.
Along with a certificate, each graduate received R10000, an HP computer running open-source software, free internet access, a printer and a digital camera.
“This package not only benefits the learners, but the community too in that there is now a rich pool of skills available to meet the requirements of local communities,” said project director Clive Smith.
Story found here.
Source: Business Day
