ALX extends its transformative outreach to the vibrant community of Hammanskraal.
ALX in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation, visited the community of Hammanskraal in Extension 2 Mandela Hall to educate young people about the technological skills available in the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Amongst there were other organisations they collaborated with, such as The South African Learner Support Organization (SALSO), as well as other Non-Governmental Organisations that focus on Gender-Based Violence, Social Work, and health-related issues.
The ALX tech hub offers a variety of courses lasting for six months, including AI Career Essentials (AICE), Data Analytics, Salesforce Administrator, Back-End Web Development, Front-End Web Development, AWS Cloud Computing, and a thirteen-month Data Science programme.
All these services are provided online free of charge, thanks to sponsorship from the Mastercard Foundation, for all selected applicants after they have paid the administrative fee.
Vatiswa Gilivane, the Recruitment and Activations Manager for ALX South Africa, stated that their visit to Hammanskraal today stems from their desire to initiate the recruitment of young people for technology skills programmes.
“We’ve noticed that many young people in the country, particularly those from underserved communities, lack awareness of these program concepts. They don’t understand the value or benefits these programs offer, nor the opportunities they can unlock,”
“They don’t understand the value, benefits, or opportunities that these programmes can unlock,”
“We realized that we need to go back to basics and educate young people on what technology is, the opportunities it can unlock, and why having tech skills is essential in this 4th Industrial Era.” Added Gilivane.
Gilivane further emphasised that they have found the necessity to return to basics and educate young people on what technology is, the opportunities it can unlock, and why it’s crucial for a young person in this Fourth Industrial Era to possess tech skills.
“Our visit to Hammanskraal today is part of the roadshow that we are conducting. In February, we were in Soweto, and we also visited several communities in 2023,”
“It’s not limited to Hammanskraal; if people are interested and want us to visit their area, whether you’re an NPO, an NGO, a church, or a community of schools aiming to gather young people between the ages of 18 and 34, we’re ready and come and provide education about these programs,” emphasise Gilivane.
Itumeleng Segona, the Founder of the South African Learner Support Organisation, which collaborates closely with ALX South Africa, expressed, “The reason I founded this organisation is because of the challenges I faced growing up. I lacked essentials like sanitary towels and also struggled with obtaining career guidance assistance.
“It took me a while to understand my calling and what I wanted to do. I had to volunteer at multiple places before realizing that I am meant to be a teacher. Everyone kept suggesting teaching to me, but initially, I was considering science for financial reasons. However, my true calling led me to SALSO.”
“We feel we have made an impact because the presentations were impactful, and they will shift the mindset of young people, inspiring them to seize the opportunities presented to them and make the most of them,” Itumeleng stated.
In the realm of youth skills development, ALX specialises in technology skills training, aiming to bridge the digital gap and address the digital divide among young people across the African continent.