Imagine being a young person from a township school in this day and age with no access to computers, internet access and a resource center to use for your school work.
The direct impact of this is that you will be unskilled in ICT and unaware of global developments, which limits your future potential academic and career options. The lack of such a skill will most likely hamper your chances of escaping the cycle of poverty, and subsequently limit your opportunities to advance in life.
This is unfortunately the reality in local schools across Mmabatho and the North West Province at large.
But thanks to Change the World Trust, and with the support of Absa, school students, educators and unemployed youth will have their lives turned around through the set up and management of a brand new, high-tech IT Innovation Lab in the Redibone Secondary School.
Earlier this year, the school hosted high level delegates including the MEC of Finance, Mrs Nelson, Director of North West Department of Education, Mr Monale and Absa leadership from across the Retail, Sales and Community Investment divisions.
The goal of this project is to create an environment for innovative learning through enabling young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to dream big and not be restricted by their socio-economic situations.
The intended outcomes are to develop a generation of ICT competent and technologically savvy young people, who can easily find jobs in the local economy and assimilate into the ever changing global economy.
The IT Innovation Lab will have a ripple effect that will filter through the rest of the local communities, create leaders and drivers of change who can overcome obstacles by harnessing technology.
It will also act as a springboard for Computer Science educational programs that will be delivered by Change the World to schools in the North West Province, through the free online Hour of Code platform (www.hourofcode.co.za)
