KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna informal settlement White Location now boasts its first internet café thanks to Knysna Rotary Club and a local entrepreneur, Bonke Dyan, whose vision is to not only run the café as a business but to provide welcome assistance to the community.
October is Economic and Community Development Month on the Rotary calendar and this year, Rotarians got busy working with Dyan to prepare for the launch of his IT business, which he is operating from a shipping container opposite Chris Nissen Primary School.
With a qualification in information communications technology (ICT) and finance from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Dyan has a passion for empowering and uplifting the community through access to technology.
His business initiative is the first of its kind in White Location, as he stated at the opening of the shop on Thursday 12 November. "White Location now finally has a place where the community can access Wi-Fi; we are the first to provide people with this service," he said.
Dyan was grateful for the support he received from Rotary, and stated that he aims to also help community members. "I will have to operate as a business first and foremost, but this facility will also help community members if they really cannot afford to pay," he said.
Bonke Dyan and Rotary Knysna president Andrew Finn cut the ribbon to signify the opening of his business. Photo: Blake Linder
Services provided include internet access, printing facilities, computer skills training, and assistance with online applications for schools and tertiary institutions. "I will now be able to give schoolchildren the facilities needed to apply to higher-education institutions one day, and it will mean people no longer have to go to town to print documents they need."
Dyan, who has prior involvement with Rotary through Rotaract in Cape Town, sees community outreach as an important aspect of his business and he intends to offer job-seekers help with the compilation of CVs.
Rotary supported Dyan with mentorship for his start-up, the acquisition of a container and guidance in relation to its physical setup and shopfitting. He also approached a number of Knysna locals who contributed towards the cladding of the container and at the opening he thanked the Knysna Municipality Community Services Department for its support.
Rotarians Henry Fairweather and Andy Muir will continue to mentor Dyan on a regular basis.
Bonke Dyan speaking at the opening of his business. Photo: Blake Linder
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