Operation Fikelela (Operation Access)

Operation Fikelela (Operation Access) offers e-literacy classes free of charge to youth in Khayelitsha, one of the largest and poorest townships in South Africa.

The classes are held by IkamvaYouth volunteers, and comprise part of the multi-pronged, three-year programme for IkamvaYouth's learners (learners in the last three years of high school). The curriculum is focused on open source software (Edubuntu, OpenOffice and Firefox). It comprises step-by-step lesson plans, which enable trainers to deliver task-based content (learners produce something tangible and relevant in each lesson, such as a curriculum vitae or list of bursary providers relevant for their future field of study).

The curriculum is aligned with learning outcomes as identified by SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) and the national computer applications technology curriculum. It is youth-focused, context-specific, and available as open content to be used and adapted by other training providers free of charge. The project seeks to ensure that learners are proficient in the use of computers by the time they matriculate, as most go on to enrol in higher education institutions where they are expected to use computers for numerous activities and all of their assignments.

IkamvaYouth volunteers offer e-literacy training classes to grade 10s and 11s in the tuXlab free of charge. They have also provided training to future film-makers at the Community Video and Education Trust, and generate income for sustaining the lab by charging members of the community a small fee for undertaking the classes. IkamvaYouth's tuXlab is in the Nazeema Isaacs Library, and is available for use to the whole community free of charge. It runs off a thin client and will be connected to the internet at the end of August.

Further information:
www.ikamvayouth.org
Luyanda Kota: lekota [at] gmail [dot] com, +737083369

Hosted by:
IkamvaYouth