The MTN SA Foundation has handed over a high-tech multimedia centre to the Mawewe Community Centre in Mgobodzi Village, Nkomazi Local Municipality, as part of a longstanding Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Department of Social Department.
The partnership is aimed at skills development, fighting poverty and building a caring society for all. The 20-seater multimedia centre is equipped with desktops, free MTN Wi-Fi connectivity for 24 months, an interactive white board, laser printer and other necessary hardware and software. To create a seamless experience for visitors and ensure that they can easily access and enjoy the benefits of the technology, ICT training will also be provided for centre staff.
“The technical and information gaps common in communities and schools outside major urban areas prevent thousands of South Africans from accessing the online resources that have the potential to enrich and transform their lives”, says Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, General Manager of the MTN SA Foundation. In provinces like Mpumalanga, geographic challenges like mountainous terrain add to the difficulty of service delivery.
“Effective public and private partnerships are needed now more than ever to deliver infrastructure and support services to schools and community centres. It is imperative to building an inclusive, informed society that will ensure rural learners and communities benefit from technology, communication services and the growth opportunities that come along with digital skills development”, says Mtunzi-Hairwadzi.
“Each year we work hard to extend our reach in driving economic growth and community upliftment across the country. Our partnership with Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu on this project is aimed at doing just that, and we will continue to work hard to ensure more people in more communities are given every opportunity to succeed at school, or in life, and be future-fit,” says Mtunzi-Hairwadzi.
To date, MTN SA has handed over 500 multimedia centres in schools and communities across the country, connecting thousands of learners and many communities with the technology and skills needed to thrive in the modern, connected world.