KwaDukuza youth empowered towards tech and 4IR
A group of 60 young people in KwaDukuza have launched their careers towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the tech space after receiving full bursaries to study app development.
They were chosen from a promising pool of 400 and were awarded yesterday during a mayoral ceremony. It's the result of a joint initiative between KwaDukuza and various stakeholders.
KwaDukuza mayor Dolly Govender says the program came at the right time as the world embraces technology and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
"As you know know Facebook was developed by a non-graduate and today he is a billionaire so tech is the way to go. They also work at their own space and time with some of them later opening companies or being consultants", She said.
"We always talk about the Fourth Industrial Revolution but do we have enough programs to empower youth accordingly?" Govender said.
Shannon Moffet is with the Vuthela Local Economic Development which also runs the ILembe ICT Project. She says the students will be given tools inline with the technical and entrepreneurial know-how.
Moffet says fore now though such programs are often hindered by lack of Internet access in some KZN communities.
"For example, we work with various muncipalities in Ilembe and hold virtual meetings and the rural municipalities of Maphumulo and Ndwedwe can't fully participate because of connection issues. So there is a massive of infrastructure", she said.
One of the beneficiaries Sinenhlanhla Mncube says she wants to inspire her peers to explore the IT industry as a career option.
"I am very excited. I am teaching my other peers that you do IT and create opportunities for yourself like creating apps for big companies", she said.
