Locals learn new skills through Monash Alumni Community Engagement Initiative

1 December 2010

Laura Cremona and Fulu Morovhi, founding members of the Monash South Africa Alumni Community Engagement Initiative

Monash academics Sheelagh Walton and Neil Manson with the alumni volunteers and course participants

Ten community members from the Honeydew area received Certificates of Attendance at an Awards Ceremony held on Saturday 27 November 2010, on the Monash campus in Ruimsig, Johannesburg.

The awards were the result of a Monash South Africa Alumni community engagement initiative started in September 2010 by two dedicated Monash alumni, Laura Cremona and Fulu Morovhi, who were keen to involve fellow alumni to use the skills they had learned at university to give back to the community.

Monash School of IT lecturers Sheelagh Walton and Neil Manson assisted the alumni with the development of a basic computer literacy programme and Laura and Fulu recruited a group of 10 participants from the local community with the help of Pastor Emmanuel Malgena from a local church, Sacred Heart Ministries.

For a period of 12 weeks a group of 10 Monash alumni volunteers taught the basic computer literacy skills to community participants - many of whom had not had the opportunity to complete their formal education.

Lerato Lesia, one of the participants in the initiative, said at the ceremony: “As old as we are, some of us had never touched a computer before and have seldom communicated in English.” Lerato felt that the new improved computer and communication skills she had acquired will be a stepping stone to help her look for a job.

Cristelle Snyman, who manages the Alumni Relations office at Monash South Africa, said: “We are incredibly proud of our alumni for using their free time to share their knowledge and skills, and will continue to support them to expand this exciting new initiative.”