New Hope School receives laboratories, computers from CoZa Cares

The New Hope School was selected as CoZa Cares' School of the Month for January 2012. The project was completed by NetDay Association on behalf of CoZa Cares resulting in two computer laboratories being built - a library resources lab and a creative lab - as well as 250 computers serviced and maintained, networks checked and restored, servers set up and Internet connectivity established.

IT literacy a valuable skill

NetDay Association is a non-profit ICT organisation that specialises in technology solutions for the educational, social and enterprise development sectors. Much of its work is funded by CoZa Cares, the social responsibility arm of UniForum SA, the .ZA Central Registry Operator.

According to Fiona Wallace, manager of CoZa Cares, UniForum SA was thrilled to choose New Hope School as one of its Schools of the Month. "Being IT literate is a valuable skill for anyone but it is especially useful for special needs learners. IT opens up a world of learning that was previously inaccessible and therein lies its value," she said.

Easier to type than write

Ben Bredenkamp of NetDay added, "The aim of the project was to ensure that the computer facilities of the school are ready for use by the individual learners of the school. For most of these learners it is easier to type than to write. Access to the computers also ensures self-paced learning and plays a valuable role in preparing learners for the world of work. Computer literacy and being an independent learner are prerequisites of the computer age," Ben Bredenkamp of NetDay added.

CoZa Cares is heavily involved in IT training in South Africans schools. Not only is UniForum SA a sponsor of the Mindset Learn IT training materials available at 425 South African schools, but to date more than 2 000 teachers countrywide have received ICT skills training through ISPA's Train the Teacher programme, of which UniForum SA is the major sponsor.