About Us
Walk into the Sappi Kwa Dukuza Resource Centre in Stanger and you will be met by an extraordinary sight.  Within the walls of these neat and pristinely kept premises, you will find rows and rows of youngsters poring intently over computers - in itself not an unusual sight in this age of computer games and ready access to technology.  But add to the mix the fact that most of these youngsters come from rural villages, many without electricity, and the picture takes on a new perspective. Then, add to that the fact that most of these kids are here voluntarily and are doing homework assignments, and you are bound to do a double-take.
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June 2010, heralds the 10th anniversary of the Centre, since opening its doors for the first time on 2nd June 2000. The phenomenal popularity of this successful centre has not waned.  Without a doubt, the heart of the centre is still the digital village which consists of some 35 internet connected computers. Kids and adults flock to this cyberhub at all times of the week, throughout the year.  Saturdays are extremely busy, as are the afternoons when school is out, when learners line up, waiting to get a turn at the computers.  It is quite a sight to see the queue snaking down the stairs right into the Stanger sunshine on any given day, filled with youngsters waiting patiently for their turn at the computers.

They come to do research for school assignments and projects, they send and check emails, prepare CV’s and apply for jobs, bursaries and the like.  In short, this free internet connectivity gives the centre’s thousands of members - many of them normally unable to afford such luxuries – the opportunity to be part of our cyber-connected world, using a facility which is increasingly critical to people and serves to bring people and communities closer together.

The time they get to spend on the internet is managed by the dedicated staff and the amazing volunteers who work at the centre.  They make sure that everyone gets a turn and can share fairly in these free world-class facilities that have been made available to them.

But one of the most astounding aspects of this popular centre is that in almost ten years of daily activity, it still looks like the day it opened.  There is no graffiti on walls or worktops, no gum stuck under desks – in fact everything is in excellent working order and is neat and clean.   The children that come here are quiet and orderly.  They respect the centre and appreciate the fact that they can work in pleasant surroundings that are well-maintained, clean and neat.  Centre Manager, Alan Govender believes that the key to the success of the centre is that it has been established in partnership with the community. By charging a nominal subscription fee, for those that can afford it, it has ensured that those that come to use the centre’s facilities feel a sense of ownership and participation in the overall success of the centre.

Of all the lessons learnt from the successes of this centre – one that has stood out it is the fact that the Centre is run according to strict business principles in accordance with Sappi’s own business ethic, which it insisted on replicating for the running and management of the centre when it was established.  As a non-profit organisation, the Centre is managed by a Board of directors drawn from members of the local business community and educationalists with many years of experience in the NGO sector.  Its financial management is sound and thorough and whilst it relies upon donations and sponsorships from the business sector it is in constant pursuit of achieving sustainability.

The Sappi Kwa Dukuza Resource Centre has entered its tenth year of operation with all the signs that it will be around for another decade after this and will continue to set the national standard for centres of its nature around the country.
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Sappi KwaDukuza Resource Centre