Get free internet access at the Sonskynvallei WCG eCentre

Sonskynvallei is a community located approximately 9 km north, northwest of the Mossel Bay central business district, just outside Hartenbos. Sonskynvallei is a poor community where many residents rely on social grants, and those who work do contract/seasonal jobs and domestic work.

Because so many young people do not finish school, many are out of work in the community. The residents need homes, a primary school, opportunity to start their own businesses, better public transport, and job opportunities. 

The Sonskynvallei WCG eCentre was officially opened on 11 November 2019 to give residents free internet access, set up emails to apply for jobs, print and scan documents, and apply for online government services. For the 3 000 people who live in Sonskyvallei, the WCG eCentre is the only internet café-style facility in the community. Currently, the residents enjoy about 40 sessions per day, 120 sessions per week, and about 520 sessions per month. The community uses the eCentre to apply for SASSA Grants, SARS e-Filling, emails, cv typing and job applications.

Schoolchildren also visit the eCentre daily to do research and browse the internet. Since many people in the community have no computer training or don’t have computer skills that’ll make them employable, the eCentre also provides computer-accredited E-learner and ICDL training. This training helps the community to become computer literate and more employable, preparing them for the modern job market.

The Sonskynvallei WCG eCentre held a graduation ceremony in 2022 for the 22 candidates who received training. Certificates for finishing all three courses, Informal Basic, E-learner, and ICDL, were given to the 22 graduates. When Mariska Ruiters, one of the graduates, began her ICT training at Sonskynvallei WCG eCentre in January 2022, she had no computer experience. She attended training classes daily and achieved her Informal Basic Training, E-learner and ICDL certificates. Her training helped her earn an N5 certificate in Human Resource Management from South Cape College.

Another graduate, Simone Jacobs, started training during the June school holidays in her matric year and got rewarded with her certificates before she wrote her matric end exam. She started visiting the eCentre daily in January 2023 to start job hunting, and she managed to apply for an ICT Internship at the Mossel Bay Library, where she was accepted in April 2023 and is currently doing her internship.

Services:

• Free internet access
• Email Access and assistance to create emails
• Online Job searches and applications
• University and TVET College online applications for admission
• Jobs and business opportunities
• Central Supplier Database Applications
• Printing of CVs (Free printing of maximum 10 pages per day)
• Scanning of documents
• The Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD Grant) applications
• Computer training

Training:

• Basic computer training.
• E-learner: entry-level accredited certificate.
• International Computer driver’s license (ICDL).

Contact the eCentre:
Email: Sonskynvallei.ecentre@gmail.com

Address:
Cumpiro Street
Sonskynvallei
Hartenbos

Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 08:00 - 16:00