PC trust now wizer
CYBER Samaritan John Goodrich has gone from repairing old computers and donating them to underprivileged schools to now starting up small businesses for the people he teaches.
Goodrich runs a course through his PC Wize Trust teaching students to fix, build and programme computers. The course is officially recognised and certificates are awarded to students on completion.
His latest batch of students have been empowered even more, with Goodrich using some of the computers that the students have built up to help them start their own businesses.
“I will supply them with computers, do marketing by creating pamphlets to give out to the public and all the general stuff needed to start up a business. I want these guys to go out confident that they have an income and can provide for themselves.
“I’m hoping they will go back to the communities that they come from and spread their knowledge and make more of the youth computer literate,” said Goodrich.
The latest batch of youthful students were joined by Jos te Braake, who used to lecture computer literacy at University of Fort Hare (UFH). “I’ve been involved for a long time with computers, but more the management side. I came on this technician’s course to be able to do my own work on computers from now on,” said Te Braake.
The ex UFH man together with Goodrich also added something to the course, which they say now offers a little more than first year university.
“I enjoyed it. I’ve worked with the Transkei Development Corporation before and loved it. I’m happy to use my skills to train others and this fits in with John’s line of thinking,” said Te Braake.
The three-month long course ended earlier this month and excited student Lusanda Nkosana is making Goodrich’s dream come true by taking his internet café business to his hometown Indwe. “I am thinking of starting my business here in East London city centre but my heart is leaning towards Indwe. The internet café will be a boost to [the little town of] Indwe because there is not much development in terms of IT or computers there,” said Nkosana.
Ohawe Maliwa felt that the course was good but wanted to continue studying to get still better qualifications. “The course fuelled my passion and I will stay on with John to learn some more,” said Maliwa. Goodrich said Maliwa might follow the route of an ex-student who is now in charge of Absa Eastern Cape’s computers.
Siyasanga Vubela will be opening a computer repair centre and internet café in NU 9 Mdantsane where, he says, there is nothing of the sort. “I will be starting from the garage at my house,” said Vubela.
Evert Terol will start a PC gaming centre and internet café in Greenfields as there is none in the area. “There are many schools in the area and this will be a place where pupils will be able to do research. I will hopefully be able to teach others and give them the chance that I had.”
Goodrich said that they desperately need more computers especially old laptops – even if they’re broken.
For information on the course or to donate computers call 072-140-1941.