When the names of women involved in community-building projects in the Vhembe District is read out, Rhulani Tracy Masungwini (36) is sure to be included.
Rhulani is a soft-spoken woman whose good work shows in her initiatives. Her aim is to uplift her community by empowering pupils from different schools with free computer-skills training.
Through her company, Rhulani Tracy Pty Ltd, she approached the Edison Nesengani Secondary School at Tshino in the Vuwani area with a proposal to facilitate computer-skills training for pupils as a way of broadening their educational platform, and her request was well received.
"We started last year and the majority of the 145 learners who registered for our computer lessons are already performing well," Rhulani, who resides at Mbhalati Village, said. "This is not a computer course but a computer lesson facilitation, where learners will receive certificates of attendance at the end of the year."
The purpose of extending the computer lessons to pupils is to ensure that they are equipped properly. When a pupil is not computer literate, she says, he/she is prevented from fully realising their learning, even when they reach varsity level.
"These days, maybe because of the Covid-19 pandemic, universities and other tertiary educational institutions are already transitioning fully to e-learning (online learning), which means that without some basic computer skills and the knowledge on how to find their way around the Internet, pupils will be unable to further their studies," she said.
Rhulani remembers well how she had struggled just to apply online to further her studies at university. "I couldn't compile any online application due to the lack of computer skills," she said. "It became apparent to me that many learners do not know anything beyond utilising their phones for social media, and now we are glad to say that we are shifting their minds to also consider using their phones for educational benefits."
Rhulani Tracy Pty Ltd was given a classroom at the Edison Nesengani Secondary School to conduct the lessons, and carried in some 15 computers, with the assistance of four facilitators. "We decided on a contribution of R100 from each learner towards the maintenance of computers and facilitators' honorariums," she said.
A Grade 9 pupil who attended Rhulani's computer-skills training, Muneiwa Ramanyimi (14), said that he was very happy because he knew a lot more about the computer's operational system now. "With this knowledge, I am confident that I will be able to apply online with ease to study at varsity," he said.
The school's deputy principal, Mr Maanda Ambani, said he appreciated the initiative Rhulani had brought to the school. "The school is fortunate enough to have Rhulani Tracy Pty Ltd on its side," he said.
Rhulani Tracy Pty Ltd does not only teach the children these skills. They also offer their services to interested educators or school personnel for free.