BCMM – In a significant step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering communities, Minister of Communications and Digital Technlogies Mondli Gungubele and the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Philly Mapulane, joined forces with the Executive Mayor of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Councillor Princess Faku, to launch the highly anticipated Yarona Digital Ambassador Program.
The launch held in the Eastern Cape Province on 10th of August 2023, marked a milestone in the efforts to equip and empower young digital change-makers in their respective communities, this collaborative initiative supported by the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa(NEMISA), aims to recruit, train, and empower digital ambassadors who will play a vital role in driving digital transformation and inclusivity.
The main goal of the Yarona Digital Ambassadors Program is to empower and enhance communities in their understanding of fundamental digital skills. This initiative is aligned with the Department’s mission to narrow the gap between those who have access to digital resources and those who do not. By providing comprehensive training in emerging digital technologies, the program aims to address the lack of digital skills among South Africans, particularly the youth, and create opportunities for them to participate actively in the digital economy.
The Metro Municipality is excited to see what achievements the students are going to bring to the city.
“We are moving towards being a smart city in that say I am happy to hear that you are planning on making this campus an engineering campus. We also thank NEMISA for this wonderful intervention,” Cllr.Faku.
In a bid to foster economic growth and enhance skills development, Deputy General Ms. Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani paid a visit to the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) Potsdam Campus. The highlight of her visit was the state-of-the-art STEM lab, which promises to drive innovation and technological advancement. Welcomed by Vice Chancellor Professor Rushiella Songca, the Deputy General was impressed by the WSU Potsdam Co-lab, a hub for skill training. This visit signifies a commitment to equipping students with the necessary tools for a prosperous future.
“The University currently teaches students basic digital literacy, data science and cellphone repairing. Trained 50 pupils so far on data science and we are targeting to train 400 students,” Prof Songca.
Currently, this program is providing training to 900 jobless graduates, equipping them with tablets and mobile repair kits, it holds promise for bringing success to all involved, extending its benefits beyond the university’s confines.
Nemisa – National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa
