The Women’s Information Skills Empowerment (WISE) programme is back in action at the City of Cape Town’s libraries. Hundreds of women from across the city have already benefited from the programme.
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WISE was founded when Cape Town was chosen as one of 13 cities worldwide by the Carter Center in the United States to participate in its first global Inform Women, Transform Lives campaign.
The campaign’s goal was to ensure that women can seek and receive relevant information from their governments in order to succeed in their communities.
“The women in our communities stepped up to the plate and received basic computer skills with a view to source information on local government services and were then expected to share that information within communities. It did so well, we decided to continue and build on the programme, and WISE was established,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
She added, “We’re not only expanding on the initial programme but it’s also aimed at curtailing the high levels of information illiteracy within communities, especially among women.”
The programme is offered at 14 libraries this year, with Scottsdene Library completing its programme at the end of 2022, where 15 women from the community benefitted.
Some of the women pledged to help reduce high school dropout rates and to work within their communities to provide municipal education. Others have registered their non-profit organisations and are looking forward to enrolling in short courses to further their skills.
There are 10 participants in each six-week in-depth programme and the women who graduate are encouraged to become information activists.
Langa Library started its WISE programme last week, while Manenberg Library will start later this month.
Apart from digital literacy sessions, participants can also receive job readiness training and other empowerment skills, according to Councillor van der Ross. Libraries have long been more than just a repository for knowledge and information.
“Our libraries are facilities which actively seek to share all their information with their communities, and I encourage our patrons to participate when the opportunity arises,” she concluded.
The City urges anyone interested in participating to approach librarians at Cape Town libraries and find out if the programme is offered.
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