How Does Access to Free Education Alleviate Poverty?
In the latest Masiphumelele news from Masicorp – we give you an inside peek into the 2021 opening of our ICDL (International Computer Drivers Licence) centre here on Chasmay campus. Keep reading to discover answers to questions like how does access to free education alleviate poverty?
What is the ICDL?
If you’ve just joined our mailing list, and you are an avid supporter of South African charities then you may be left wondering what the ICDL is exactly and what course participants really learn? If you’re reading this then – you’re more than likely doing so from a pc, smartphone, or tablet. The very act of reading this blog confirms that you are computer literate. Most people living in Masiphumelele have never even turned on a computer and do not possess the skills to operate one with any level of proficiency.
Our ICDL centre attempts to bridge that gap by providing people with basic computer skills free of charge, so they may enter the workplace with some working knowledge of the screen and box that we are all heavily devoted to, and reliant on especially since the onslaught of Covid-19. So, how does access to free education alleviate poverty in this case?
Meet Chantel
We caught up with some of the ICDL hopefuls that are currently in the pre-assessment phase of the course and spoke to one very interesting young woman. Meet 17-year-old Chantel, she is very taken with accounting at school and wants to learn about computers so that she can use her skills to better educate herself and forge a better future for her and her family.
When we asked her why she is taking this course she said: “I want to learn. I currently have a computer, but I don’t really know how to use it. I know nothing about word processors or data sheets and that bothers me. The only thing I do with my computer is watch DVD’s.” Chantel is wide awake to the demanding needs of the future; she thinks that free education such as computer training holds the key to help underprivileged communities like Masiphumelele out of poverty.
We also asked her what she thinks her future holds – she said: “I want to own and run my own accounting firm. Once I have been able to establish myself in the corporate world, I would like to help young women from my community who cannot afford toiletries and basic sanitary items.” She is confident that she will be moving on to the advanced classes after Thursday’s assessment and we wish her the best of luck.
ICDL Programme Launch 2021
Masicorp’s ICDL centre opened on Saturday the 23rd of January 2021. The initial phases of the programme have had students learning basic computer skills in preparation for the pre-assessment, which is taking place on Thursday the 28th of January. Students are learning basic computer skills, such as how to work word processors and navigate the internet, select information, and copy/paste that information to a word-processing programme like Microsoft Word.
Official ICDL classes start on Saturday the 30th of January and students who pass their pre-assessment will go on to the Internationally accredited computer course. Students who do not meet the criteria can apply for basic computer classes and once they have this level under their belt, they can then move on to the more advanced ICDL course. This programme is the cornerstone to the question; how does access to free education alleviate poverty? This free course offered to residents in Masi has the potential to teach someone valuable skills that can uplift them and help them secure gainful employment in an ever-changing market that demands computer skills.
Masicorp – Carrying People into the Future
Still wondering – how does access to free education alleviate poverty? Masicorp’s ICDL is a small step towards a holistic goal. It is one very small part of the process of helping people realise their worth and attain self-confidence to claim a better future. This course is not going to solve poverty, but it is a vital starting point for helping a community gain essential workplace skills – creating a toolkit, so they may make South Africa a better place one person at a time.
If you feel moved by Chantel’s story and the work we do within our ICDL programme, donate here. Support people making changes for themselves and their families well into the future.