Dominic Adriaanse
A JOVIAL and healthy Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu unveiled a solar-powered DigiTruck at the V&A Waterfront yesterday.
The truck will go to communities to teach children about information technology (IT).
Tutu was joined by his daughters Theresa and Mpho as he unveiled the mobile, multipurpose IT unit.
The truck will go to rural areas and poor communities like Langa where children will be able to learn about information technology..
“Only through partnership can we bridge divides, only through our youth can this promise be fulfilled,” said Tutu.
Close the Gap, an international non-profit organisation (NPO), aims to bridge the digital divide by offering high-quality, pre-owned computers donated by European firms to educational, medical and social projects in developing and emerging countries.
Deloitte Belgium director and founder of Close the Gap Olivier vanden Eynde said: “Based in Europe we have tried to bridge the digital divide with partners in sub-Saharan Africa, with South Africa being very important to us as Desmond Tutu has been our patron for the last 12 years.”
Vanden Eynde said the truck can accommodate 18 pupils.
“We are proud to work with Brother for All in using the DigiTruck in furthering their work teaching the youth digital education and coding, as in this country there is a big vacancy for coding,” said Vanden Eynde.
Sihle Tshabalala, the founder and chief executive of Brothers for All, an NPO based in Langa that teaches high school drop-outs, teenage mothers, offenders and ex-offenders computer and entrepreneurial skills, said: “We are all about teaching people that they have opportunities, that they have possibilities with real industry-based courses.”
Tshabalala said they provide programmes at the Worcester male and female prisons.
“Things are moving towards online… creating résumés, applying online and if you do not have understanding or access, then you will be left behind for the rest of your life.” Tshabalala said.