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Navigating new know-how and digital functions has grow to be needed for many individuals making an attempt to entry authorities help and companies through the Covid pandemic. However for a lot of older individuals, this isn’t straightforward.
The goGOGOgo undertaking in Alexandra in Johannesburg is instructing a bunch of older individuals within the township to be extra tech-savvy.
Pensioner Joyce Cindi mentioned she had realized tips on how to talk with academics through the Covid lockdown by an app utilized by her granddaughter’s faculty. Cindi is the authorized guardian of {the teenager}.
“Earlier than beginning the teachings, I didn’t understand how the app labored and I might miss vital notices from the varsity. Now I can log in, examine the notices and even comply with up on my granddaughter’s homework,” she mentioned.
The individuals attending the teachings informed GroundUp that on account of the teachings they have been much less reliant on others serving to them with smartphones and the web.
“I’ve shocked lots of people since beginning these classes. When some pals and I acquired misplaced at a funeral, I used to be ready to make use of the navigation app on my telephone to assist us discover our method. My pals couldn’t imagine it,” mentioned Florence Nawa.
Twice every week, the group attend classes on the Itlhokomeleng Affiliation for the Aged and Disabled. Most of the girls attending the tech classes additionally acquire meals parcels from the affiliation. Generally they’re the only real suppliers for his or her households and are elevating their grandchildren utilizing their Older Individuals Grant.
Throughout classes, they’re taught the fundamentals of utilizing the web, emails and a few generally used social media apps.
The undertaking was began by Jane Simmonds in 2020. The purpose is to assist and empower principally aged girls, who’re major caregivers of their households. dwelling in townships and rural communities throughout the nation.
Along with the tech classes, goGOGOgo additionally runs a number of well being promotion and schooling initiatives for the ladies.
Simmonds mentioned that a part of their classes is on web security and he or she hopes the ladies will share these classes with their grandchildren at dwelling.
Based on facilitator Siyasanga Mtayi, they began in Might 2021 after establishing what precisely older individuals wished to study on the web and smartphones. They’re at the moment wrapping up classes with a second group of girls who’re anticipated to graduate on Thursday, she mentioned.
“At first, the gogos used to get aggravated when the screens of the tablets they used went black, considering it had switched off. However they know they have to press a button on the facet to unlock it and so they do all of it on their very own now,” she mentioned.
Bradley Chauke, one other facilitator, mentioned that curiosity within the classes from different older individuals in Alexandra has grown. “We needed to break up the primary cohort into two teams. We’ve had extra gogos coming to inform us that they wish to be part of the teachings. They’re actually serious about studying extra about know-how,” he mentioned.
Simmonds mentioned the undertaking wanted funding to broaden. Not less than 15 tablets have been donated by service supplier Cell C for the teachings.
“We need to scale up the undertaking by instructing gogos in several elements of the nation. We wish to give every gogo a pill and a few information to take dwelling, as soon as they’ve graduated. The pill can grow to be an asset for them and their grandchildren to make use of within the family,” she mentioned.
She mentioned the general public may also help by including goGOGOgo as a MySchool beneficiary.
© 2022 GroundUp. This text was first printed right here.
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