In The Spotlight with Urglobal
Urglobal and their dynamic founder, Luleka Mkuzo, are In The Spotlight with Matoyana Media this week. They’re passionate about development and because they work within rural communities they’re sensitive to the differences and inequality gaps between urban and rural communities.
Urglobal offers rural schools and communities a 4.0 digital lifeline in the form of a Rural Technology Park Model, ensuring that rural schools and communities join the digital movement. The business recognizes that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can be used to bridge the gap between rural and urban schools in South Africa by addressing ICT skills gaps of teachers and Learners.
The Technology Model Park concept was envisioned to drive ICT skills training through a “fixed” and “Mobile” Rural Technology Park. The mobile park model was developed to increase access, reach and promote inclusion for rural schools and communities negating the distance and inaccessibility challenge. It was initiated in 2017 providing basic computer skills to teachers, Learners, and communities driving a culture of ICT use in rural communities.
Parallel to this, land for the fixed park was acquired in 2017 from the Chief and Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture. Their vision is to have an ICT Centre (Hub) which will function as a community ICT skills center for showcasing technology gadgets and driving essential digital skills training and hosting coding workshops and Hackathons among other innovations. This hub is to be accessed by rural schools and communities.
Through the Technology Park model, Urglobal hopes to unearth the potential of rural based learners to become globally competitive citizens, through the provision of comprehensive friendly ICT innovations which can enable them to learn, imagine infinitely, make informed career choices, live healthy lifestyles and contribute to the common good. These ICT initiatives will usher in a new generation of creative, innovative thinkers that can improve livelihoods for rural communities in the future.
We asked Urglobal Founder, Luleka Mkuzo, how she keeps connected during the COVID-19 pandemic and she said,”I am fortunate to be part of various networks such as YALI (SADC), Mandela Washington Fellowship and GIBS SEP just to name a few. To stay inspired we have discussion platforms where we update each other on what we are doing in our communities both nationally and internationally. Such platforms contribute support and encouragement. I also ensure that I stay engaged with our stakeholders, the schools, the students and the Urglobal Board. These also provide a shared vision and shared aspirations to see our vision come to fruition, they keep me going.”
Thank you for your vision and your time Luleka!
See more about, or connect with Urglobal here:
+27 (0) 60 521 8322
