Huawei South Africa has partnered with Khulisani to launch a mbile information and communication technology (ICT) training centre project to provide computer skills training to schools for underprivileged, disabled children in south Gauteng.
Huawei South Africa’s Lizel Kotze said that company was committed to contributing towards the reduction of unemployment and the alleviation of poverty through supporting skills development and training initiatives.
“Whilst our focus is on improving the resources of schools and education in the rural and semi-rural areas, we also invest in special needs schools which are often marginalised due to limited resources,” she said.
The mobile ICT training centre will be active in Meyerton, Sasolburg, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging and the surrounding low income residential areas and informal settlements. the five special needs schools that will benefit from the project will be JNS school for children with cerebral palsy, Eureka school for the mentally disabled, Handhawer School, Sebokeng Technical High School and Thabavuyo School.
STUMBLING BLOCKS
Kotze said statistics show that five percent of the South African population lives with disabilities and that various factors such as poverty, unemployment, insufficient training and education are the most common stumbling blocks for them.
“In order to overcome this barrier, Huawei made the decision to launch a pilot project in partnership with Khulisani, and enterprise development company that focuses on the ongoing upliftment of individuals with disabilities,” she said. “Together with Khulisani, Huawei has invested in constructing a mobile ICT training centre which supports computer skills training, and in the process the employment of people with disabilities.
“We conducted research into their needs and customised the training accordingly, in order to accommodate the different disabilities which the pupils experience, ensuring a positive outcome for the project.”
INTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY
According to Kotze, the objectives of the ICT centre are to provide a firm foundation in terms of computer literacy, focusing specifically on basic desktop training, Microsoft Office suite and internet access. E-learning initiatives have also been introduced and two individuals have been trained and are bing equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience to provide computer literacy training.
“Huawei South Africa fully supports the South African government’s aim to integrate people with disabilities into mainstream society,” she said. “Huawei aims to make a positive difference by implementing various projects like the mobile ICT training centre, which builds towards a better future and economy for all South Africans.”
