When last have you visited the Masiphumelele library? On any given day, you will find this centre a hub of activity, bustling with jobseekers, avid readers, and children and youth attending one of the many after school programmes.

Did you know that the Masiphumelele community library was actually funded and built by Masicorp in 2003? Over the years we have raised funds allowing us work with outreach programmes such as Ikamva Youth, N’ali Bali, Word Works, as well as extending the original building, which includes a second level dedicated entirely to a computer training centre.

Although the City of Cape Town now run the library itself, Masicorp still funds and provides the teachers and offers the facilities and training to all residents in the community in computer skills in the computer lab upstairs.   The lab offers more than 40 000 Masi residents free computer classes and free access to the internet and an average of 699 people-hours of tuition are given each month through three training programmes (Basic, Advanced, Children’s classes).

When there are no computer classes, the computer room is open to the public allowing them full access to the internet free of charge.  The public are able to use the computers to open their emails, do online research for projects or jobs, and to create documents using word processing.   There are staff on hand, at all times, to assist computer users and supervise the equipment.

Even more exciting, is the plan to have our Computer Lab registered as an International Computer Driving License Testing Centre this year! This means that community members who complete this course will receive an ICDL certificate which is internationally recognised. We will keep you updated on the progress of this certification and hope to have our first intake of students early next year, including news of a new ICDL training venue.

There is no doubt that providing the access to a computer and an internet connection has huge benefits for the unemployed, allowing them to improve their computer literacy skills, update their cv’s, and search for jobs. Masicorp is proud to be able to offer a facility like this for those that need it – enabling them to equip themselves for a bigger and brighter future by opening doors to possible job opportunities.

To find out how you can contribute to the centre or get involved, drop us a mail at contact@masicorp.org

“I think it’s fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we’ve ever created. They’re tools of communication, they’re tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user.” – Bill Gates