Nedbank Group Technology is partnering with Microsoft and the Papillon Foundation to increase computer literacy among the bank's 142 rural mobile bankers.
The Papillon Foundation is a Johannesburg-based NGO that focuses on empowerment of the poor through technology.
The bankers targeted by the project are Matriculants from the rural communities they serve.
Nedbank's learning and development team has secured 100 fully depreciated laptops from Nedbank, and Microsoft has provided its Digital Literacy Curriculum software free of charge. Licensing for this software is usually about R4 000 per laptop.
The Papillion Foundation, as a Microsoft-authorised refurbisher (MAR), refurbishes and loads the laptops with the software at a fraction of the cost.
New life
The primary goal of the community MAR programme is to increase the number of low-cost computers available to eligible charitable organisations, eligible academic users, and other community users.
The community MAR programme also benefits the environment by helping to prevent the premature disposal of computers that could be reused.
The Eastern Cape was selected to pilot the Nedbank project in February, and national rollout is expected during the course of the year.
Practise makes perfect
Nedbank says: “The strategic intent is to increase PC literacy by providing learners with the opportunity to practise and improve their skills with the provided hardware and software.”
Prior to this project, Nedbank provided access to training material and information at the bank's rural data hubs, located near Nedbank branches or in Pick 'n Pay and Boxer stores.
“Mobile bankers operate within 30-40km of a data hub, which means access is often limited,” explains Nedbank.
According to Nedbank, discussions are also under way with the Department of Science and Technology as they are considering introducing a programme that could facilitate Internet connections via broadband in the rural areas.
* The Papillon Foundation can be reached at (011)435-9799 or www.papillonfoundation.com
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