MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Amid the unrest and protest action in and around Mossel Bay the official opening of the eViwe Community Centre, developed by Edengro (Pty) Ltd, was cancelled.
However, the operations at the centre will not be affected and the eViwe Aftercare, Toy Library and Eskom Computer Centre for literacy and graphic design exposure and education will continue as from Monday, 30 July.
The eViwe Centre is at the KwaNonqaba Beehives, 16 Sithela Street, KwaNonqaba.
A skills training partnership between Edengro (Pty) Ltd and Africa Skills Village Private College (ASVPC), the accredited Apprenticeship Training and Testing Centre in George, has also been announced.
According to Elsie Harmse, managing director of ASVPC, the eViwe Community Centre serves as a skills training awareness incubator, creating a path for future learning for youngsters.
“This facility is a breakthrough for youth education and training in the region. The eViwe Community Centre is the result of a life-changing dream and the hard work of community developer Bongani Swartbooi and his team,” says Harmse.
According to the last national Census, KwaNonqaba consists of more than 9 000 households and a population of about 30 000. Records state 53.19% of residents speak isiXhosa and almost 35% are Afrikaans speaking.
The computer centre features 12 work stations for computer and internet training and five for training in graphic design.
These have been made possible by a donation from the Eskom Foundation towards a server, computer laboratory, software, office equipment, maths and science handbooks and educational toys for the toy library.
“What happens at eViwe completely aligns with Eskom’s CSI initiative to support youth education with a focus on science and mathematics,” says Liz Dekker on behalf of the Eskom Foundation.
“This facility and our computer centre with Wi-Fi access is the core of progressive training and international interaction for the youth of KwaNonqaba. It creates a solid education and learning foundation for our children,” says Swartbooi.
The eViwe Toy Library and After Care were established in August 2016 by Edengro. The focus is on early childhood development and skills development using hand to eye coordination, sharing, building, reading, basic writing and basic mathematics.
All eViwe education is supported with educational toys from the eViwe Toy Library. These include puzzles, blocks, dolls, reading and counting toys and younger children are assisted by high school learners.
Currently 70 children between the ages of two and seven are cared for daily between 08:00 and 16:30. Since March 2018 these numbers doubled from the earlier 350 to 400 per month to between 700 and 800.
Homework assistance comprises special attention to mathematics, science, writing skills, spelling, art and free play, such as rope skipping, netball, soccer and hockey.
Contact the eViwe Community Centre (bongani@edengro.co.za or 071 003 0101) for more information. For information about skills training certified by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), email secretary@africaskillsvillage.co.za or call 044 884 0791.
The eViwe Centre is at the KwaNonqaba Beehives, 16 Sithela Street, KwaNonqaba.
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