The document summarizes an I-CAN Centre, a digital public access facility in Western Cape, South Africa. The centre aims to provide broadband access and digital skills training to empower citizens. It has 5 zones - Learn Zone for IT training, Commercial Zone for digital services, Play Zone for gaming, Create Zone for design courses, and Study Zone for student learning. The centre offers courses, workshops and resources to enhance digital literacy, workforce skills, entrepreneurship, and academic performance in the community. It is managed by Genesis Community IT Initiative to fulfill the government's mandate of community development through technology.

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INTRODUCTION
The I-CAN Centre is a digital public access facility initiated by Western Cape Government as part
of their broadband roll out plan for the province. The aim of the Centre is to provide access to
broadband and empower citizens with digital skills.
RATIONALE
The objective of the ICAN Centre is to provide access to information, empower the community
through digital skills, expose broadband technology to the community and stimulate creativity
and innovation in a local community. The boost in Entrepreneurship and support to SMME’s will
occur through access to information and empower business owners through entrepreneurship
programmes at the ICAN Centre. All programming will improve skills, employment
development, grow innovation, stimulate creativity, supplement motivation for young people in
schools, support tertiary students to complete studies and alleviate poverty issues in the
community.
The I-CAN Centre as the digital heart for communities has a strategic adoption framework that
outlines how citizens can be upskilled through training and how companies can invest in the I-
CAN Centre going forward. This initiative is a catalyst for change in community development
and transformation will be inevitable in our local communities.
Genesis Community IT Initiative (non-profit organization) is the appointed managing operator to
ensure that Western Cape Government mandate is fulfilled by empowering communities with
digital skills and entrepreneurship.
The I-CAN Model is divided into 5 areas:
COMMERCIAL ZONE
The Commercial Zone is a one-stop shop for all broader community and particular
entrepreneurs to provide digital services such as:
Printing | Scanning | Laminating | Faxing | Email | Internet Surfing | Selling IT Accessories |
Selling Stationery | Business Cards | Flyer Design | Web Design | Mobile App Development
All citizens that register at the I-CAN Centre will receive Free Limited 300MB WIFI Data per
month. Free Internet usage of 45 minutes for I-CAN users is available. Also workshops are
offered to empower citizens to draft professional CVs, start their own business and become
expedient in technology.

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LEARN ZONE
The Learn Zone is a fully fledged computer lab that offers various IT training to empower the
community. As technology is an enabler towards digital skills upliftment, the facility
accommodates 24 participants with a blended learning approach model.
Courses that are offered in the Learn Zone are as follow: Computer Basics, Microsoft Office
Specialist, Google Apps, Online Job Search, IT Essentials & Essential Business Skills.
STUDY ZONE
The Study Zone offers a quiet learning environment for primary and high school students to use
facility for homework and exams. Based on our research, most students struggle with
schoolwork and exam preparation due to an inadequate learning environment at home.
This Zone not only offers space to study, but a 45 minute free internet usage through Smart
Cape technology. In addition, we offer digital CAPS aligned content from Grade 4-7 through
Cyberwall software for students. Students are supported with study skills and research
methodologies to complete assignments and tasks.

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CREATE ZONE
The Create Zone is a vibrant and enthusiastic space where future designers and developers
demonstrate their knowledge and skills on a digital platform. Based on research, innovation and
creativity becomes the life of the very community in which it resides. This creative space sparks
new ideas and inventions for students who enroll for courses. Joining our diverse I-CAN
community will inspire, connect, and enable you to develop skills for the industry.
The following courses is offered in the Create Zone:
Mobile App Development | Web Design | Web Development | Computer Programming | Intro
to Video Editing | Multimedia Design | Intro to Recording Studio environment | Intro to 3D
Printing
PLAY ZONE
The Play Zone offers gaming for all ages at the I-CAN Centre. Gamification through learning is
one of the most exciting learning trends taking place around the world. This facility is an
innovation space and stimuli for young people. Apart from playing games on Xbox or
PlayStation, we train students in how to build their own games through open source software.
This new development will be a game changer towards social entrepreneurship for young
people. The following courses offered in the Play Zone:
Intro to Gaming Design | Gaming Development | Build online games

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PARTNERSHIPS
Throughout the establishment of the I-CAN Centre we have build partnerships with institutions
and services providers such as College of Cape Town, CYAN Development Concepts, CTV, Vision
Music Records, JJ Sounds and Appshed to develop and empower communities through ICT
Training.
I-CAN 4 BUSINESS
The I-CAN Centre has developed a digital service package where we empower startup and
established businesses to be competitive in the marketplace. From logo design to full fledge
website development the I-CAN offers these services.
Customized IT training is offered to businesses to empower employees with necessary digital
skills for the workplace. The I-CAN Centre in partnership with Google offers Google for Work to
businesses.
I-CAN 4 NON-PROFIT
As nonprofits is the extended hands for empowerment in communities, we offer affordable
services and training to nonprofit organizations. From an initiation of a logo to a website we
guide NPOs how to structure their digital presence to obtain funding. Customized IT training is
offered to group sessions to empower employees / volunteers. The I-CAN Centre in partnership
with Google offers Google for Non-profits programme to NPOs to obtain $10 000 adwords from
Google each month. In addition NPOs will benefit from the programme with an online server
storage to manage files and emails.
I-CAN 4 SCHOOLS
The I-CAN Centre offers customized IT Training for students and teachers. As part of I-CAN
community strategies all students are included in the courses offered in each zone mentioned
above. E-learning training is offered to teachers to flip their classroom into a digital space and
utilize technology to their advantage. The I-CAN Centre in partnership with Google offers
Google for Education programme to empower teachers to utilize Google Apps for the
classrooms.

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DIGITAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS
I-CAN Gaming Competitions
The following project allows the youth from different communities to congregate together and
compete digitally to one another. This project identifies potential and innovation within youth
through technology.
I-CAN Hackathon
The following project is where web design (I-CAN) students partake to build a website for an
NPO. It is a one-day project where NPOs and web designers come together and build a website.
5 NPOs are earmarked to participate in the project. The best website is selected through a
selection process.
I-CAN Appnovators
The following project is where app development (I-CAN) students go out in the community and
identify challenges and use technology as a means of a solution. This project is a 3 day
workshop where students work on their mobile app development project. Support, mentorship
and guidance is offered by the I-CAN Centre towards completing the project. Upon completion,
student’s project will be evaluated for commercial use and social impact.
I-CAN Microsoft Office Specialist Project for Schools
High School students who does Computer Application Technology as a subject in Grade 12 can
write an Microsoft international exam at the I-CAN Centre. This opportunity provides high
school students with international accreditation before they leave school. This impact will
prepare students to broaden their opportunities and be competitive in the digital world.
WHAT MAKES THE I-CAN PROJECT UNIQUE?
Beyond having access to technologies, individuals, businesses and institutions need to
understand the relevance and benefits of using technology to achieve educational, economic
and social goals. Awareness of its potential benefits creates the motivation to master digital
skills and learn more about effectively using broadband. These goals aim to help communities
raise awareness of the value of technology and generate interest in adopting its use.

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The ICAN digital skills training programme will therefore aim to achieve the following:
a) To enhance the creativity and innovation of citizens through application development,
multimedia and mobile application development training as well as artistic training.
b) To increase awareness of services and programs offered with the intention of growing
entrepreneurs and businesses thus boosting the economy through job creation and GDP.
c) To complement the school curriculum with additional content that will enhance the learner's
experience at school and assist with study skills.
d) To improve the digital literacy of users who have very limited knowledge about technology
and the internet.
e) To train citizens how to connect to the internet by setting up a compatible device correctly;
and the benefits of the internet.
The I-CAN Centre model has 5 zones for growth & development
Learn Zone Commercial Zone Play Zone Create Zone Study Zone
This zone is
where citizens
are trained in
various digital
skills. Blended
and online
learning are
supported in
this
environment.
From
Computer
Basics to Office
management;
students is
empowered
with computer
skills for
possible future
employment.
This Zone allows
citizens to access
information
through
internet. Other
services such as
printing &
scanning is
offered to
ensure digital
service are
offered.
Entrepreneurs
can use the
facility to have
meetings and
workshops.
Business
workshops are
offered to
empower
citizens for new
ventures.
This zone
allows children
to play games
on xbox or
PlayStation and
online. This
unique
environment
stimulates
innovation and
build cognitive
skills. A Gaming
Course is
offered to
citizens to
empower them
and open to a
world of
possibilities for
gaming
development.
This zone is
where creative
design courses
are offered.
From web
design to java
programming
citizens can
benefit from
these offerings.
Through these
offerings
citizens can
unleash digital
potential and
creativity to
shape the new
world of ideas.
This zone allows
school & tertiary
students to
study in a quiet
space. Also we
offer support in
study Skills and
research
methodology.
Various Service
providers can
use the space to
teach children
how to read. We
offer
educational
resources online
for primary
school learners.

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IMPACT
Digital Inclusion
The deployment of broadband technology can strengthen a community and lives of the
residents. Change may be evident in economic success and increased business opportunities
and academic excellence. Once a community are connected digitally, they can take the
advantage of the benefits of broadband in real and tangible ways.
Workforce Development
Communities needs digital skills to become future workers and entrepreneurs, as well as the
current workforce update to meet employer needs. Broadband as a key enabler can generate
new business opportunities and better employment opportunities.
Academic Excellence
Technology allows learners to explore educational opportunities and improve academic
performance for the world of tomorrow. Therefore digital literacy is a supplementary to learner
overall performance.