Secretary Colin L. Powell Visits Africare's Digital Village in Soweto

Africare
Tuesday, 26 June 2001

During his recent trip to South Africa, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell visited Africare's community-based computer-training center, or "digital village," in Soweto. In his remarks at the University of Witwaterstrand in Johannesburg, South Africa on May 25, 2001, Secretary Powell praised the project by saying, "This is the kind of investment we need to prepare young people for the future. In its first year, the Soweto Digital Village has equipped more than 500 children and young adults with the computer skills they need to compete for the jobs that are waiting for them in the 21st century economy. More digital villages are opening every year...so much promise, so much progress here in South Africa and across the continent."

Africare intends to create digital villages wherever needed in South Africa and to extend them to other African countries, where education and connectivity are greatly needed as well. To date, Africare has launched four centers in the Republic of South Africa and one in Ghana.

For more information about Africare's digital villages, visit www.africare.org/at_work/sa-computers/

Africare is a leader in aid to Africa as well as the oldest largest African-American organization specializing in African aid.

For more information, or to contact Africare, see their website at: www.africare.org