HAZYVIEW – The church has a responsibility to enhance the development of the communities in which it is situated, other than only focusing on heavenly matters.

This was said during the sod-turning ceremony of a computer centre of more than R100 000 to be constructed in the vicinity of Nyongane Alliance Church.

It is the result of a partnership between the church, the Up Up Up Youth Project and the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication (SCIHDC) which is a non-govern-mental organisation and the largest social change communication project in Africa.

The project is aimed at developing the community of Ward 39 and especially the youth by teaching computer and information technology skills. The centre’s sod-turning ceremony happened on January 10 and the project is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

According to Past Simon Mdluli, the SCIHDC and church contributed about R52 000 each towards the development of the project.

He urged other stakeholders to come forward and donate other equipment to make this dream a reality.

Ehlanzeni’s ANC regional secretary, Mr Phazamisa Mathe, accompanied by local councillors and ward committee members commended the church for its efforts at motivating the youth to acquire the highest levels of education. He said the centre would equip more youths from the area with much needed computer and information technology skills.

“We want to help young people from the area with computer literacy so that they can be sustainable, independent, marketable and employable, and even be in a better position to start their own businesses. We thank the church for putting youth development in the forefront,” explained Mathe.
“We are here to bless the beginning of the project to encourage the youth to be more serious about their education,” he added.

Mathe also commended the church’s youth for starting a career-guidance project which aim at assisting prospective learners in making wise career choices and in what to expect at institutions of higher learning.

He urged the youth to aim at being better educated and skilled in order to develop the community.