By Nangamso Mabindla
9 November 2007

EXCITEMENT was in the air in Duncan Village this morning, when two schools received computers from the Eastern Cape Youth Commission (ECYC).

The six computers were donated to Sinovuyo and Qaqamba Senior secondary schools as part of the youth commission's development and social mobilisation initiative. The ECYC's Sinethemba Mashalaba said they had visited the schools earlier this year and had seen the need to assist them.

"When we first arrived here in February, the schools asked for furniture and computers. When we [the youth commission] upgraded our information technology, we decided to donate our old computers to schools that are in need," Mashalaba said.

The donation of the six computers was a pilot project aimed at encouraging government departments and the private sector to donate their replaced computers to disadvantaged school around the province.

"We are just piloting this project; we hope that other government departments will emulate this gesture. We also hope that most of this donated equipment reaches the rural schools around the province. The children here at Sinovuyo were very happy when we arrived this morning; this showed me that these schools need to be taken care of."

The ECYC also urged the private sector to focus on the needs of some of the province's schools as part of their social responsibility programmes.

Unemployed graduates would also benefit from the project. "Once we donate more computers to disadvantaged schools, we will look at our database and get unemployed IT graduates to assist in educating these learners about ways to use a computer. This will also help them give back to the community," Mashalaba added.

To ensure that the computers were safe, the computer labs were fitted with alarm systems. Nolwazi Madikizela, the elated principal of Sinovuyo Secondary School, thanked the youth commission for giving back to the community's youngsters.

"By donating these computers, the youth commission has shown us that it has goals for the youth in our communities. Children here live under difficult circumstances and this donation has shown them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel," she said.