Ride4Hope brings hope to Bohlokong

By Emily Setona

BETHLEHEM – Impucuko Primary school hosts the Nelson Mandela Legacy Foundation’s Ride for hope organization and other key stakeholders as they come and launch a digital skills and business incubation centre aimed to bring the much-needed digital skills to the unemployed youth of Bohlokong and mayor Tseki Tseki was invited to this occasion.

Luthando Kaka a representative from Velokhaya cycling club in association with the Nelson Mandela Legacy Foundation’s Ride for Hope organization worked hand in hand with Baxolile Mabinya from Deviare and Anne Mclaren the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of American Tower. Com (ATC) South Africa to open a digital skills and business incubation centre that is aimed to bring digital skills to the youth of Bohlokong. Deviare is a digital skills training organization that aims to bring the 4IR skills and training to the community of Bethlehem and they have selected 9 students who will be going through a twenty-four-month program that will be receiving digital skills and training.

Teboho Mofokeng, Reitumetsi Phuti, Mahadi Mokoena, Irene Motaung, Mzandile Tshabalala, Karabelo Sethunya, Mohapi Khabane, Thabiso Mofokeng and Lefa Mokoena are the fortunate beneficiaries of this program, and they live in the community of Bohlokong. “I am very excited to be part of this program and I want to do my best so that I can do well and acquire these digital skills that are in high demand in the world today,” Karabelo Sethunya said.

According to Mclaren ATC has contributed to this new incubation centre because part of what they do as a telecommunications company that builds connectivity infrastructure in 26 countries, is to make sure that they build digital communities wherever they operate.

“This project is very special because we worked with the Nelson Mandela Legacy foundation’s Ride for Hope and Deviare to bring this digital hub to this school that will enable the community to benefit through a digital skills program. ATC works in 26 countries and has already build 460 digital communities that benefit a lot of people directly and indirectly,” Mclaren said.

Mayor Tseki Tseki who was there encouraged the youth who are the beneficiaries of this opportunity to use it well and be the creators of their own future.

“I hope that ATC and Deviare will not just bring these resources and leave but rather have monitoring systems to make sure that these young people succeed in their future ventures to become employers and not only seekers of employment,” Tseki said.