The I-CAN Centre is a digital public access facility for all citizens. This unique environment offers various digital services and entrepreneurship support. Genesis CITI is the official Centre Operator of the I-CAN Centre.
The importance of access to ICT as a means for development was recognized as far back as 1980 with the commissioning of a report by UNESCO that identified the need for a more equitable allocation of resources in the field of communication.
In this model local government partners with local entrepreneurs are to establish and maintain public access centres.
The current challenges the community faces through gang violence, drug abuse and many more can be addressed through social projects and social innovation.
Reframing mindsets in a community is a process, but with the offerings of the I-CAN Centre, citizens can transform their lives through digital skills and broadband usage.
The I-CAN Centre aims to transform a local community into a digital village. This will in return, make broadband usage a demand. Through the interest and buy-in of a community where citizens will explore and discover new ways of learning through technology.
The I-CAN Centre is the appointed G-CITI Elsies River Campus and headquarters.
The I-CAN Digital Skills will therefore aim to achieve the following as a digital public access facility:
a) To enhance the creativity and innovation of citizens through application development, multimedia and mobile application development training as well as artistic training.
b) To increase awareness of services and programs offered with the intention of growing entrepreneurs and businesses thus boosting the economy through job creation and GDP.
c) To complement the school curriculum with additional content that will enhance the learner’s experience at school and assist with study skills.
d) To improve the digital literacy of users who have very limited knowledge about technology and the internet.
e) To train citizens how to connect to the internet by setting up a compatible device correctly; and the benefits of the internet (examples are job seeking, searching for educational information, government websites etc).
f) To align programmes at the ICAN centres with industry skills shortages and thereby creating a supply of skilled labour for the industry demand.
g) To expose students at school to new careers in IT through holiday programmes.
h) To enable elderly people to obtain computer and mobile skills through free & low cost courses offered at the ICAN Centre.
i)To expose toddlers at Early Childhood Development level to touch screen technologies.
j)To develop innovative courses to steer the community in a digital direction.
k) To enhance the school classroom environment by offering courses for the educators during holiday periods to become instructional designers utilizing technology to deliver their lessons.
