Centre for innovation and technology set up

A NEW information centre meant to promote young people's access to information using art and new media has been established in Bulawayo.

The Centre for Innovation and Technology (Cite) situated in Hillside suburb, was established last year but only got officially registered this year.

This is a non-profit making organisation that brings together young and creative artistes and develops mobile applications that will help link and serve people.

In an interview with Sunday Life, co-founder of Cite Zenzele Ndebele said Cite seeks to create a space where young people from different backgrounds and professions can meet and discuss ideas as well as collaborate on various projects and inventions.

"The Centre For Innovation and Technology seeks to create space where young people, artistes can meet and train on how to use technology and new media to promote their work, disseminate information and also reach wider audiences," said Ndebele.

To achieve this, Cite has set up a studio in Hillside where they support artistes with space, production facilities and access to audiences for their art using new technologies such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter among others.

He said the centre aims to set up creative working space that will host young people, artistes, journalists and members of the civil society.

"The centre will also encourage the use of art as a medium of communication on important cultural, social and political issues. Young people will be trained in digital journalism, blogging, video filming and podcasting. We will work closely with technical companies in conducting research on the development of mobile applications," he said.

Ndebele further noted that training offered to artistes will not only ensure good production quality but will ensure that artistes are able to effectively communicate messages that can have a positive impact on society.

He added that their idea springs from the need to have an organisation that will ride on the use of new technologies and art to support social movements, talented change makers, and innovators.

Ndebele said the organisation wants to set up an innovative working space that will be referred to as the creative hub with outreach activities where different creative minds will meet regularly to do a number of activities which include collaborations, recording, music asakhe online channel, training workshops, weekly discussions and there will also be a coffee shop.

Ndebele said the centre will also host weekly discussions on socio-political issues and performances while they will also conduct research on technology and alternative means of communication.