Who we are? (Executive Summary)
Genesis Community IT Initiative (G-CITI) is an award-winning non-profit organization (NPO) and Public Benefit Organization (PBO) renowned for its contributions to skills development, entrepreneurship support, and social innovation within the Western Cape region. With a core focus on addressing the digital divide, G-CITI has emerged as a leading force in promoting digital literacy, social innovation, entrepreneurship, and vocational digital skills programmes.
Since its establishment in 2014, G-CITI has made significant strides in transforming the lives of the beneficiaries and communities through its impactful social and economic digital skills initiatives. The organization’s flagship endeavor, the I-CAN Centre, has provided access to technology opportunities to more than 100,000 beneficiaries over nine years, acting as a beacon of opportunity for digital inclusion.
G-CITI has also enabled and advanced many youth businesses through business support and access to markets. At the heart of G-CITI’s success is it’s diverse digital skills and entrepreneurship programmes that have left an indelible mark of creating more than 15000 training opportunities that graduated from its programmes.
These unique training opportunities have encouraged youth to become employed or either become an entrepreneur. The organization’s commitment to fostering innovation and knowledge is reflected in its collaborations with schools, universities, resource centers, government agencies, private enterprises, and fellow non-profit organizations. G-CITI’s holistic approach has permeated various sectors, catalyzing positive change and addressing the high unemployed rate amongst youth in South Africa.
The I-CAN Centre located in Elsies River is a public access facility for all citizens and a technology & entrepreneurship hub for youth in developing a skilled technology generation that addresses the high unemployment and the scarcity skills in South Africa.
Empowering Connected Communities for a Digital Future.
Our mission is to build capable and competent digital citizens to thrive in a society where technology meets the social and economic needs of individuals.
Enable communities with access to broadband technology, empowering them to actively engage in personal and business development in the digital space.
Establish ourselves as a Center of Excellence for technological and digital advancement in Cape Town and surrounding areas, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that drives innovation and progress. Provide comprehensive digital literacy training to all beneficiaries, equipping them with essential skills for entrepreneurship, employment, and digital participation.
Offer tailored entrepreneurial programmes that encompass digital services support, business guidance, and mentorship, nurturing a generation of youth entrepreneurs.
Create platforms and initiatives that encourage social innovation, enabling beneficiaries to address community challenges creatively and collaboratively through technology-driven solutions and design thinking programs.
Support primary and high school students in their educational journey by leveraging technology to enhance learning experiences, obtain technology credentials and ensure they are well-prepared for a tech-driven world.
G-CITI was established in response to South Africa’s changing economic landscape, marked by a growing tertiary sector, high unemployment, training and educational challenges.
The organization’s mission is to address these issues by preparing a significant portion of the population for the evolving digital economy, particularly in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) field.
As traditional job roles are replaced by new job opportunities, G-CITI aims to bridge the skills gap by offering future digital skills and related vocational training. This initiative addresses the strain on the education system and equips individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the changing job market.
With the growth of technology enabled solutions, most businesses are struggling to adapt to the changing landscape, therefore G-CITI has embarked on technology entrepreneurial programs that promote digital inclusion amongst entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, and also offer local business support through its partnership programs.
Passion: Our dedication fuels our efforts to create meaningful change and equip individuals with the tools they need to thrive.
Respect: We demonstrate respect to everyone we interact with – our management committee, staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, and partners.
Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards in all our interventions, ensuring that our actions align with our values and mission.
Excellence: We set the bar high, aiming to be the benchmark for quality in everything we do, consistently pushing ourselves to achieve outstanding outcomes.
Innovation: By being creative and adaptive, we seize opportunities that arise in the dynamic technological landscape, consistently finding new ways to make a positive impact.
Inclusiveness: We leverage technology to connect and bridge gaps across races and cultures, fostering a stronger, more united community.
Professionalism: By maintaining professionalism, we differentiate ourselves from competitors and ensure the delivery of top-notch solutions.
In respect to the vision and mission, South Africa faced colonialism for more than 400 years. This caused citizens to condition their way of thinking through limited resources. Resulting in urban and rural communities being disadvantaged and displaced. Technology, as an enabler and equalizer, is the potential solution to expand the way of thinking for a better future in South Africa
