Digital training for South Africa's older women in transportation, provided by inDrive and goGOGOgo.
In a commendable initiative, ride-hailing platform inDrive and grassroots organisation goGOGOgo have joined forces to empower older women, known as gogos, in South Africa. The collaboration aims to provide digital skills and mobility literacy to these women through hands-on training sessions.
The project, held at Safe-Hub Alexandra on July 29, 2025, focused on older women from Alexandra and surrounding areas. During the inaugural event, each gogo received personalised support from trained inDrive drivers and "gogo champions" to download the app, book demo rides, and learn safety measures for travel.
The training sessions taught essential skills such as navigating smartphones and understanding the basics of the inDrive app. This empowers these women to independently book rides, improving their access to safe and reliable transportation.
Many gogos in South Africa are left isolated and dependent on others for essential errands like grocery shopping, medical visits, and collecting social grants. The project addresses this critical societal need by providing digital and mobility literacy skills to navigate their daily lives more effectively.
Mobility is a considerable hurdle for older individuals in South Africa, as public transport can often be unsafe, inaccessible, or unreliable. By bridging this gap, the project strengthens the agency and daily living of older women in under-resourced areas.
InDrive's peer-to-peer model offers a flexible and user-friendly option for those new to ride-hailing or who prefer direct interaction. Starter kits were provided to gogos, which included smartphones, branded blankets, handmade bags, and comfort items to encourage continued engagement with technology and transport services.
The project initially focuses on empowering older women, but inDrive emphasises its commitment to responsible growth in South Africa, ensuring its services genuinely reflect and meet the specific needs and realities of local communities.
Plans are underway for more sessions later this year, using feedback from participant interviews to refine and expand the program. This project equips these gogos with tools for their independence and safety, addressing a broader social need since many gogos raise grandchildren often on a single state grant, and reliable mobility is essential for their caregiving roles.
By reducing isolation and dependence on others for essential tasks, this collaboration enhances the safety, independence, and ability of older women to participate more actively in their communities. This marks the beginning of a series of planned empowerment days designed to support older women through technology and mobility training.
- The collaboration between inDrive and goGOGOgo encompasses educational programs in technology, aiming to teach older women how to navigate smartphones and utilize the inDrive app.
- Learning digital skills and mobility literacy is a key part of the lifestyle changes this project encourages, enabling older women to book safe and reliable rides independently.
- In addition to transportation skills, the project offers fashion-and-beauty items like branded blankets and handmade bags in starter kits, inspiring continued engagement with technology and transport services.
- As part of their personal-growth and career-development, many gogos will benefit from the skills training provided, making them more independent and confident in managing their daily lives.
- With increased access to the internet and smartphones, the gogos will be able to leverage social media for entertainment, staying connected with their family and friends, and seeking job-search opportunities online.
- As the project grows, it will address the learning needs of older women, offering skills-training and education in various areas like home-and-garden, entertainment, and education-and-self-development, fostering a more enriching lifestyle.
