THE first digitalized Luanshya Information and Learning Centre has opened with a call by the mining town’s Mayor Charles Mulenga on young people to take advantage of newly installed Information Communication and Technology (ICT) facility to break the boundaries in access to information. Mr Mulenga said with the opening of the Information and Learning Centre, Luanshya town would no longer be behind, but move in tandem with the global trends.
“What we are witnessing here marks the beginning of creating a new generation of boundary breakers, a generation of young people who have one common mission to help change the future of our town for the better using limitless access to knowledge on various issues obtained from the confines of the Helen Kaunda Memorial library,” he said..
Mr Mulenga hailed Books for Zambia for adopting a pro- poor approach in its promotion of the use of technology which results into narrowing the gap between privileged and the less privileged members of society. He added that the approach taken by Books for Zambia sourcing for funds to create the Luanshya Information and Learning Centre will play a crucial role in ending an individualistic and elitist attitude towards the use of technology resulting in the re-energizing of the spirit of entrepreneurship and risk taking among the youths. And Books for Zambia founder Theresa Lungu said apart from providing information on international training links and scholarships to Zambian students the Information and Learning Centre has a deliberate policy of empowering youths using a team of dedicated local and International experts. Ms Lungu, who is an employee of the prestigious Harvard University and based in the United States of America (USA), said the youth and other less my basic computer and research skills among others. The facility does not only provide free computer and internet access but also other services such as tapping into the local community expertise to train and empower ordinary youths and other less privileged members of society.
COMMUNITY privileged members of Luanshya, will learn a lot. “Members will learn modern Curriculum Vitae writing skills, agriculture, animal husbandry, and news through information provision,” she said. The Information Centre is expected to facilitate Luanshya youths’ participation in various international events of educational nature happening in the USA, Canada and Britain using the newly installed projectors which facilitates live on-line linkages using latest technology facilities such as zoom. Meanwhile, Luanshya Town Clerk Zakeyo Mbao said the partnership between the Council owned Helen Kaunda Memorial Library and Books for Zambia was in line with the Council’s mandate to provide social amenities to residents according to the Local Government Act. He said the Learning Centre was a partnership project between the Council and Books for Zambia which acts as a clear demonstration of the municipality’s commitment to promoting service delivery to all residents. Mr Mbao added that the Council places high premium on libraries which often act as the only readily available source of comprehensive information needed by people for personal, family and job-related purposes. He said Luanshya Information and Learning Centre, was a state-of-the- art computer laboratory. which was housed in a wing of the Helen Kaunda Memorial Library. The Centre provides free computers access, internet services, online training, research services, and general local and international information services for free to pupils and students who are paid up members of the library. Ministry of Education officials, lecturers, teachers and learners from schools and tertiary institutions attended the colorful launch which was characterized by singing, dancing and jubilation by the Luanshya Municipal Council Cultural Ensemble.
