HUNDREDS of Mzansi people experience the joy of achieving a qualification after many lectures, assignments and exams!
The 367 graduates from the Vodacom Youth Academy will be handed their certified diplomas in information technology technical support.
Vodacom Foundation founded the Youth Academy in 2012, with the purpose of developing information and communication technology skills in youth who would otherwise not have the opportunity to do so.
The programme is aimed at training unemployed youth for free in information and communication technology and entrepreneurial skills.
The graduates know how to install equipment, as well as teach visitors of Vodacom’s teacher training centres and connected schools about high-end computer skills. This year’s graduates bring the number of people who have graduated from this programme to 1 333.
Speaking at a recent graduation event in Kempton Park, where 74 jobless youth in the presence of their family and friends were given diplomas in IT technical support, Takalani Netshitenzhe, chief officer of corporate affairs for Vodacom, said corporations don’t exist in a vacuum.
“We exist in societies with high levels of inequality and poverty. We need to help solve society’s problems in any way we can.”
The graduates could participate in one of these four courses:
- End-user computing (NQF level 3)
- Cellphone and device repair management (NQF level 3)
- IT technical support (NQF level 4)
- Networking support (NQF level 5)
Their duties included providing IT technical and data capturing support to schools and municipalities in their area.
