The current priority need identified by the community and the Trust’s education progamme is the establishment of an ICT and library resource centre to be used by scholars and community members.

The local high school (St Charles Sojola) has an excellent track record with matric pass rates in the 80 - 90 percentile. However there is a real need for access to the internet for education research purposes as well as communicating with institutions and businesses when applying for places at tertiary institutions, bursaries and employment. In the context of an unemployment rate at 90%, the long distances between the local villages and the closest urban and peri-urban areas such as Peddie, East London and Port Alfred, scarce and expensive transport facilities and a general lack of telecommunication facilities access is very limited or non-existent.

The community is extremely concerned at the increasing number of school leavers who have no prospects of employment or access to tertiary education and is starting to be reflected in obvious manifestations of youth delinquency, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and petty crime.

It is in this context that the education programme has started fundraising for the establishment of a resource centre to assist youth and adults in accessing services and resources available through access to the internet, information technology and other communication facilities. A suitable property close to the Hamburg high school has been identified and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives has provided a generous grant for the completion of the building on the property.

The intention is to use part of the space as a social resource centre for youth to access voluntary counselling and testing services, condoms and information on HIV/AIDS and other sexual and general health issues such as TB, substance abuse etc. Through our work with youth in the area it has emerged that young people are reluctant to go the local primary health clinic or even Umtha Welanga for advice or condoms as they have confidentiality and stigma concerns about attending the facility. Providing these services in a centre which is designated for other purposes will assist in ensuring that the services are better utilised.

The youth centre is planned to address the needs of older children and young adults and will be able to accommodate approximately 15 computer users at any given time, as well as library and other resource users.

The current OVC Programme is funded by the DG Murray Trust, Greatheart Starfish Foundation, 25:40 and a number of generous individuals.