We are in the ecosystem of Intel She Will Connect Initiative

We are in the ecosystem of Intel She Will Connect Initiative

Little did they know that when they join the training  on the 30-31 March 2015 at Anglo American ICT Resource Centre in eMalahleni, these young women are counted in the 5million women that Intel She Will Connect Initiative will reach in three years. It was exciting to see the ICT training centre full to capacity with women volunteering to be empowered.

I was so excited when I received a message from SchoolnetSA to join an afternoon Google Hangout group chat, to discuss about the initiative. We were requested to volunteer our time, skills and resources to empower South African Women into digital literacy.

According to Intel report "Women and the Web", women in developing countries have 25% less access to Internet and a staggering 45% less access in regions like the Sub-Saharan Africa. Intel has created SHE WILL CONNECT Initiative in collaboration with UN Women Foundation and UN Missions in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa to connect 5million young women in Africa over the next three years which expected to reduce the gender gab in ICT by 50%.

 This initiative has presented an opportunity for me to be a volunteer and to empower other women. I thought of many approaches to start this project. I randomly invited women and asked them to invite others or to bring their girls to the centre. I also created an event page on my Facebook. It was exciting to see my friends sharing the event page. I was not so sure that I will reach so many women in my community.

I would like to thank Ms. Evelyn Mswetsa who brought six young and energetic women from her  Youth Development Centre near KwaMhlanga. She insisted "Nomusa I am bringing six, do you have enough space?"

After creating their Gmails and Twitter accounts, some sent me messages showing how they appreciated to be part of the global initiative. 

"Thank you Sis' Nomusa for inviting us to the class and the email address." from Busi Dube.

On Twitter Lebu replied : 

LEBU@elledonsi_lebu  Follow @musakeninda @SchoolNetSA@mnisiyntombi @MosaMgidi@thandoskhoza @dipstick YEAH GOOD DAYS WORK. KNOWLEDGE GAINED CAN NEVER BE WAISTED

The course consists of 12 modules that include: creating logo, letterhead, business cards, brochure, flyer, poster, budget, inventory, Gmails, Twitter, Facebook, Presentations for their own suggested companies or organizations.

Amongst the group of women who turned up for the course, were Mrs Sibongile Yende and Rose Nyathi  founders of pottery established by Women called Matimba Ceramics Cooperative. They shared their experiences with women during the training. This course will equip them with administrative skills, they will also share and get information from the Internet in their quest to establish their cooperatives like Matimba Ceramics.

I will be taking Intel She Will Connect to  the parents of Grade R - 3 at Maloma Primary School in KwaGuqa on the 8-9 April 2015. Parents would be able to assist their children when E-Learning takes place in their school.

 Centres who are interested in this initiative can contact me at nomusakenindan@gmail.com. Let's see how can we assist.

(This post was also published in the "Khoroni" newsletter for SAASTEC and Witbank News

Compiled by Nomusa Keninda,  Mpumalanga ICT Club Founder, Google Education Group Trainer for SchoolnetSA and a Senior Education Specialist -Computers in Education for Mpumalanga Department of Education