The awards show, organized by Forge Ahead and the Department of Communications, and held at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, is called the Oscars of the IT world, and CECD won Top Civil Society to Bridge The Digital Divide in Africa. 

The IBM KidSmart Early Learning Programme offers innovative computer education to children between the ages of four and eight, with an IBM computer loaded with educational software that is set into a colourful plastic console with a keyboard specially designed for children. 

The programme aims to enhance development, learning and school readiness of disadvantaged South African grade R learners, through:
• Meaningful use of technology.
• Dealing with and in symbolic representation.
• Sharing and taking turns.
• Explaining and describing.
• Gross and fine motor control.
• Extending imagination, creativity and role-play

Since the project launch in 1999, the CECD, with partner IBM, have placed over 500 IBM KidSmart units in early childhood development centres and schools across the country.  With the installation of the machine, CECD conducts a five-day intensive training to equip educators with the IT skills necessary to incorporate the programme into the curriculum.