January 27, 2023 – For WPDI, providing vocational training and development of key professional skills for people living in areas fraught with violence and instability is a crucial aspect of our global efforts to foster peace and sustainable development. Many underprivileged communities around the globe have remained disconnected from our digital world and have therefore been unable to access a wide range of opportunities and services that could transform their way of life and ability to improve their socio-economic prospects.
Due to poor economic circumstances, for example, many children from the Cape Flats area of South Africa lack IT exposure at home and are therefore at a severe disadvantage as they reach higher grades or enter tertiary education. A few years ago, the Western Cape Education Department equipped some schools with computers. However, a majority of teachers in those schools had not received appropriate training to fully take advantage of this hardware. In most cases, this means that the equipment was under-utilized and did not fulfil its intended purpose – to provide access to digital tools for the benefits of pupils and students.
In response to this pressing need, WPDI organized basic and intermediary ICT training courses at both local schools and our Community Learning Center in the Cape Flats area of South Africa in order to improve computer literacy. Over the course of 2022, 288 individuals graduated from WPDI ICT courses, including 153 adults at our CLCs and 153 children from two primary schools (Cypress Primary and Bokmakierie Primary).
These courses proved to be transformational for participants, opening up a world hitherto out of reach, expanding opportunities and improving livelihoods. “Computer training has really impacted the learners in a positive way. It has given them exposure to how to use a computer as many of them have never used one before. Computer training was something that they really looked forward to and they were excited to attend because they told me that they love Miss Steff [WPDI trainer] and that she is a very good teacher. The learners have gained confidence and competence in using a computer and would often tell me what their lessons entailed,” said Ms. Rushda Adams, Grade 3 teacher at Cypress Primary school.
“Before the WPDI Basic and Intermediate courses, I did not have any previous computer experience. But the WPDI has given me the confidence and the knowledge to not only draw up my CV, but also to know how to send it out to companies and ask for job opportunities. Since attending the courses I have found myself a job with administrative duties that the computer class has helped me to do. I want to thank Steff and the WPDI team for forwarding me the opportunity, giving me the confidence and the knowledge to use in my future,” said Nuraan Eksteen, who attended the Basic and Intermediate courses at our Community Learning Center.
These testimonials demonstrate that transforming underprivileged communities into hubs of positive change and peaceful development can only be achieved through targeted education strategies that prepare learners for the world of today. This is why ICT training is at the core of our approach, which we will continue expanding worldwide throughout 2023 and beyond.
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