Computer Lab is opening doors of opportunity

Earlier this year we shared the exciting news of how our Computer Lab will be offering accredited ICDL courses to the Masi community.

We are pleased to report that the first course kicked off in September, with 15 attendees in total taking part. Twice a week, between 3:30pm and 5:30pm, the group visit the Computer Lab at Masiphumelele Library to undergo free training on essentials such as word processing and file management.

The trainees have admitted they are finding the course somewhat challenging, but each one has reported back that they are feeling more positive and confident in their abilities. Each trainee will be assessed using the online official ICDL assessment tool and those that pass will receive an official ICDL certificate. This internationally recognised qualification will enable people to certify their computer skills to an internationally recognised standard – a wonderful accompaniment to any CV.

The next course starts in February 2019 and we are looking forward to a new influx of trainees to welcome to the Lab.

We are always excited to share the impact our skills development and training is making  – it’s more than just teaching a new skill, its about opening doors of opportunity to those who need it the most. So how does becoming computer literate make a difference to people’s lives?

Meet Aphiwe Makhendlana. Aphiwe was one of our previous Adult Advanced course attendees, having attended 6 months of free training at the Computer Lab under the guidance of Nyasha Sithole. Previously unemployed, Aphiwe diligently attended the twice weekly sessions for 6 months until he successfully received his completion certificate.

Part of the training the Lab offers, is providing attendees with the skills to confidently and professionally apply for job opportunities. Aphiwe responded to an advert for a Quality Controller position with knowledge of Excel, Word and Email. After submitting his CV, he was invited to an interview and later told that the job was his. Some time later, he was promoted to Efficiency Driver within the company and Aphiwe was able to further use his computer skills to perform data capturing and reports. He is now also volunteering for Living Hope, where he is being trained and working in Monitoring and Evaluation as well as HR – what a wonderful opportunity to develop his skills!

We are so proud of Aphiwe and how far he has come. 

Thank you to all our friends and supporters for helping the Masi community, people like Aphiwe, uplift themselves through education and developing their skills. If you, or your company would like to be involved in supporting this project, please get in touch.