By Belinda Bantham and Dina Mashiyane

In a significant celebration of Mandela Day 2024, the North-West University (NWU) Library and Information Service (LIS) staff dedicated their 67 minutes to empowering the university’s security officers and cleaning staff with essential digital literacy skills. This initiative aligns with Nelson Mandela’s ethos of “empowering the marginalized through education” and underscores the university’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 and 10, which advocate for quality education and reduced inequalities.

The LIS staff organized digital literacy workshops across all three NWU campuses, focusing on practical applications of digital tools. The training sessions aimed to equip security officers and cleaners, who play a vital role in the university community, with foundational skills in using Google Apps, including Gmail.

This initiative not only provided valuable skills but also strengthened partnerships with the security and cleaning companies involved. By including these partners in the training, the LIS highlighted the importance of inclusive development and mutual respect within the university community.

Attendees responded with enthusiasm, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to enhance their digital skills. Feedback from the sessions indicated a strong desire for continued learning opportunities, reflecting the broader goals of SDG 4, which emphasizes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all.