The Community Computer Learning Centre Initiative

Over the past fifteen years I've had an incredible opportunity to explore my own country... South Africa.

However having seen and experienced many of the difficulties that communities throughout Southern Africa face, I've set my sites on aiding and assisting where I could... However as we all know, one person is not enough to enable actionable change.

With the assistance of a few dear friends and like minded individuals we have been able to come up with a project which I believe all communities would need, access to information & training.

A computer learning center is the idea which we have set our sights on.... thus far we have secured 15 computers from a charity organization named Youth Edutainment. With the intention of using an open source operating system UBUNTU OS on the computers.

Unfortunately the desktops are not fully functional and would require networking, cabling, power, secure facilities and staff preferably part of the community it will be based in. Along with initial setup costs to be covered.

As this project is being initiated from a individuals / community members perspective... Over time we seek to donate the facility to the community it resides in, thus the Ubuntu sustainable and ethical approach is needed to be incorporated from the very base with open-source software & learning programs to be permanently networked to a server, enabling instant access to the information. Making it possible to train and educate them to every facet of Internet learning.

The two communities I'm currently focused on is... Atlantis, Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa... and Eskhelihethleni, Ximba, Outer-West Durban. Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Both of the above locations have a dire need of facilities such as this... which not only enables e-learning...but also a immense variety of computer based skills.

Being located considerably far from the cities (50-100km from the CBD), the Atlantis community is in a continual negative cycle involving Social Ill's.

...And the community of Ximba doesn't have the access or understanding...except with mobile data... The monopoly owned Telkom doesn't run fixed lines out here... which not only limits internet access but makes it expensive and time consuming. Many here understand how the internet, social media and whatsapp games applications operate and how to interface with them... However outside of that, many can't type, research or manipulate programmable data to the ends of education. The nearest library computer room is about 15km away.

Ones of the features we would like the learning centre to have is 24/7 365 access to all... So the shipping container would house the hardware with displays visible from all sides... with a retractable Seat, keyboard and mouse tray (the container would house a small desk and main pc and other major components/ security) ...on the note of Securities.... currently I only have access to the community centres in these ...So electricity would require permission/ support from the local state departments...

Funding toward electrical distribution hardware has not yet been estimated as costs vary considerably for distribution boxes to switch boards, cabling, transport and accredited (assurance of workmanship/ support from local community members working in the industry) assembly.

Youth Edutainment has offered to donate fifteen desktop computers to the initiative...

With your assistance, aid, funding or donations, we would be able to make this idea, this dream... a reality