PRESS RELEASE
October 2009

Women are amazing and when a group of women get together and work together, they can reach for the stars and achieve their objectives.

This is evident when the newly formed Professional Women’s Forum (PWF) decided that it is not impossible to train women from disadvantaged communities in technology. And yes, there were obstacles such as where to train these women when there is no access to computers, but then again, women are amazing and so you simply do what these women did and access two buses turning them into mobile classrooms, install a trainer on each bus and then take technology and training to where it is needed.

Speaking from the John Dube location in Duduza Ekhuruleni on Saturday where the first training camp took place, Deputy Chairperson of the PWF Morwesi Ramonyai said “Since democratisation 15 years ago, women continue to be marganalised socially and economically and if the forum members can help alleviate this situation in some small way, we will have achieved one of our goals. There are many women in communities throughout South Africa who could be playing an active role in the business world, but don’t have the basic computer skills which limits their entrance into the world of commerce and industry.

Fortunately, through member networking we identified Torque IT, a leading ICT training solutions provider, to partner us in this venture. Torque IT did not hesitate to come on board not only to provide the training but to give us the technical support required for the day. In fact, their sales and marketing director, Tebogo Makgatho, is passionate about empowering women and this commitment is evident in all that she has done for this project. We were also blessed with the support of Tiny Mabena, a ward councillor from the area who has tirelessly lent her support to the project” concluded Ramonyai

When asked for comment, Tiny Mabena said. “The training camp has afforded young female learners from the N.N. Ndebele Secondary school and other women including young mothers from the community both a theoretical and practical understanding of basic computer awareness, how to create an email address and how to use the internet for searching for careers online. There was also a module whereby participants were taught how to use the basic functions of on Microsoft Word in order that they can create their own CV’s. The entire project has been welcomed with open arms by the community and on behalf of all the women who participated in today’s training we would like to express our gratitude and thanks to PWF, Torque-IT and Microsoft SA for their generous support.”

Over and above projects of this nature, the PWF’s focuses on ensuring professional women claim and create space across the spheres of government and the private sector, to assist in making sure that standards and ethics are adhered to and to identify opportunities for professional women and to give them support as and when required.