49 gogo’s and mkhulu’s graduate from VumaTel’s “GOGOs with Vuma” Digital Skills Training Program

In a heartwarming celebration of lifelong learning and digital empowerment, 49 grandmothers and grandfathers from goGOGOgo (NPC) proudly graduated from a Digital Skills Training Program hosted by VumaTel. Held at the Matsediso Primary School in Katlehong, Johannesburg, the graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of the elderly participants, many of whom had little to no prior digital literacy before the program. 

Over the course of the training, the graduates learned essential digital skills, including how to use smartphones, navigate the internet, send emails, use social media, access e-services, and stay safe online.

“We know that almost 40 percent of children in South Africa are living with grandparents. We saw the gap that most NGOs are currently focusing on the youth and children, leaving out the gogos,” said Vumatel CSI Co-ordinator, Thando Mokoena. “We want to revive that thing that they are still here, we still care, and we see that they matter. The course we put them through is a standard ICT course, learning how to browse the internet, and how to use a smartphone as most of them used or knew how to use small phones.”

The program, which was part of Vumatel’s ongoing commitment to community upliftment and digital inclusion, also fostered intergenerational learning, with younger facilitators helping to mentor the elderly participants throughout their training. One of the graduates, Phinet Lekau, 88, speaking at the graduation ceremony, said he was grateful to have been part of the course as he now knew how to use the internet, order supplies from the shops and speak to his friends with ease.

“I knew nothing about the internet before this course, my grandchildren would simply call me holding the phone, telling me what to do, but this course has opened my eyes, I can now do all of those things on my own,” said Lekau.

“I am very happy to have been part of this program, because the phone was being used by my grandchildren, and they would constantly finish my money and airtime. Since I’ve been taught how to use it by myself, I can finally enjoy my pension money,” added 82-year-old Agnes Letsoge. 

Founder and Executive Director for goGOGOgo (NPC) Jane Simmonds further explained that with 9.7 million children in South Africa essentially living in multigenerational households with grandparents playing an important part in their upbringing, their organisation was working to strengthen the role of the older persons to build their footprint, amplify their voices, but ultimately give them knowledge, information and modern-day practices to navigate raising children in the digital age.