It gives youth the tools to access a range of socio-economic and political rights.
The idea was born we have realised that ICT plays an important role in youth, especially girls and young women in facilitating community engagement with civil society; technology inspires to maximize the full potential and positive establishment connections with the communities.
“Technology has become the driving force of change in the modern world. It has altered our economic structures and ways we communicate”. – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Access to knowledge has become an effective force for transforming social, economic and political life globally. Thousands of girls leave schools with the hope of developing a career and sustainable life that often turns into a daydream.
ICT literacy plays a vital role in the growth and development of any nation, and research has shown that the higher the rate of ICT literacy, the better the potential to succeed. A high level of ICT literacy can reduce poverty and crime, contribute to economic growth, and improve the quality of life because people, when they can read information regarding HIV/Aids and other social issues, are able to make informed choices and feel more confident about them-selves.
With an HIV prevalence rate of 16.6 per cent amongst South Africans aged between 15 – 49 years, South Africa has the largest HIV epidemic in the world.
It is estimated that 316 900 adult South Africans and 63 600 South African children were newly infected with HIV during 2011. This equates to an incidence of 1042 new HIV infections per day.
National mortality has strikingly increased by more than 86 per cent between 1997 and 2011 and HIV has been a significant contributor.
By 2011, the country had an estimated 2.01 million orphaned children as a result of AIDS. The integration of HIV/AIDS awareness into ICT literacy skills training is an innovative method that attracts girls and women, it’s motivates them to continue participating in the project now and beyond.
Addressing ICT’s and delivering quality computer training and the use of mobile phone for youth, especially girls and young women in townships and rural communities of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa is perhaps the greatest challenge facing South Africa. Accessing to global information through ICT, has empowered the disadvantaged communities to make informed choices and decisions regarding their socio-economic development and be effective in the society.
In the rural context, ICT and related e-applications has enhanced opportunities to generate income and combat poverty, hunger, ill-health and illiteracy, and are keys to improving governance and rural services. As we bridge the digital divide, we narrow the chasm that separates those with and without access to information and knowledge, thereby broadening opportunities for better life. Greater access means earlier achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. It means less poverty and hunger, and more environmental sustainability. And it has translated into greater equality and empowerment for youth, especially girls and women.
Information Communication and Technology- ICT has provided sustainable solutions. Today’s ICT cuts across all fields of life and governance. The ICT industry offers exciting job opportunities to people with computer skills.
The project has directly interacted with 1000 youth monthly with the support of 10 facilitators, monitoring and evaluation officer and intents to interact with the larger community through mass social media, in future upon acquiring funds to sustain the activity.
We value the power of communities. We know that by working together and building capacity, we can achieve the greatest goals and ultimately make contributions that benefit people at the very bottom of the economic pyramid.
ICT Education for youth, especially girls is the most successful tool to bring the positive change in the lives of poor and marginalized young people. We are providing access education with minimal operational overhead. Transparency must be maintained and considered biggest tool to achieve the objectives particularly in the developing countries as where we are currently serving. As project, we always and available to support those who wants to replicate the modality of our work.
The integration of HIV/AIDS awareness into ICT literacy skills training is an innovative method that attracts girls and women, it’s motivates them to continue participating in the project now and beyond.
To conduct small oral test at the beginning of the implementation of the project, monthly assessments to be conducted and at end of the project to evaluate the overall of the achievement of the project. This information is the key to the organisation to measure the impact, the success and the achievement of the project and how you can improve in the future and how the project can be replicate in the other communities.
This information will give the beneficiaries an idea if they did achieve their goals and able to go to the next level in their life.
To be committed and empowered disadvantaged and underprivileged girls and young women who may have thought they would never be able to do that as we are living in a World of 4 R's: Reading, wRiting, aRithmetic and computeR literacy