Computer boost for rural pupils
New computer centre for Nzuza pupils boosts their computer confidence.
MINERAL sands company Tronox KZN Sands has completed a new computer centre for the uMlalazi community to equip its youth from ‘desktop’ to bottom.
The project is one of Tronox’s skills development programmes and part of the uMlalazi Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to boost the local communities’ computer literacy, general knowledge and quality of life.
‘Distance from skills development facilities remains a problem and that is why Tronox decided to build this computer centre, to be accessible to the Nzuza community,’ said Tronox KZN Sands General Manager, Neels Oosterhuis.
‘The need was identified through a needs analysis conducted with the Tribal Court and community members from different wards.
‘The centre was established in the Tribal Court, because of safety. Computers are always a target for theft.’
The first group that benefitted from the new facility were 12 learners from the Ensingweni Primary School in close proximity to the centre.
One of the pupils, Sabelo Mngadi (11), said it is a ‘dream come true’ to finally be able to use a computer.
‘I have never had the opportunity to touch a computer before in my life. Now I can type and print a document.’
This year the centre will also be equipped with an Internet link, and will function as an Internet café. Students will be able to access information for projects.
‘We trust that we will also be able to expose at least 250 learners or adult community members to basic computer literacy up to the level that they can actually type a document in Word,’ said Oosterhuis.
Datacentrix installed the computers and will maintain it for the first three months.
Nashua also donated a large printer to add value to the project.
