Kuke village joins the worldwide web
Kuke-based Mascom Kitsong Centre Award winner, Badiredi Mokwena is working around the clock to change the area’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) landscape by targeting the youth.
He is a living example that the yellow wireless network company can improve people’s lives. Mokwena has adopted Kuke Primary School to offer pupils basic computer skills free of charge. He feels that sharing his knowledge will prove that it is not the place but content that matters. Last year he trained Kuke Primary School students in Introduction to Computers under the theme; ‘ICT Entrepreneurship for community impact.’
In that same year, the best top five students in Standard 4 to Standard 7 classes also benefited from a two week training on Introduction to Computers.
“This was a way of giving back to the community and ICT Entrepreneurship for social impact, as well as giving them an exposure and opening their minds for their academics’ best results. I believe it will keep challenging the students to work even harder at school to claim this two-weeks training,” said Mokwena.
He told The Midweek Sun that Kuke village does not have enough resources, hence he also offers secretarial services at the village kgotla. Situated some 110 kilometres from Ghanzi, the residents now have an easy lifestyle through Mascom services and products that he provides, with his added services including company registration, business plans, management plans, computer and laptop repairs, software and hardware installations among others.
As a result, the village of not more than 900 people has been spared the agony of spending on transport to Ghanzi to access services like before. Mokwena is impressed that both the young and elderly in the village appreciate his contribution. He said that the Mascom Kitsong Centre initiative also encourages him in every way.
After being awarded for ‘The Best Potential Centre’ last year, Mokwena’s determination to change other people’s lives and taking entrepreneurship seriously grew stronger and this year he beat over 100 centres in the country to win the Best Centre award.
“I really feel honoured to have been given this significant award and I will continue to make the centre even more competitive. I thank Mascom for this,” he said adding he will use the P5000.00 cash prize for Best Centre award to upgrade his services.
Mokwena looks forward to receiving The Best Perseverance Centre next year, and is adamant that in a few years Kuke will produce many ICT experts, to bridge the ICT gap and make the village 21st century compliant.
