DigiTruck helps bridge digital divide in townships
PUPILS from impoverished communities will now have access to technology at their fingertips as non-profit organisations have joined hands to bridge the digital divide.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, as a patron of Closing the Gap, together with Deloitte Belgium and Brothers for All, unveiled a first-of-its-kind mobile solarpowered DigiTruck at the V&A Waterfront yesterday.
The DigiTruck has the digital infrastructure to teach 18 pupils and will begin its journey in Langa in which the Brothers for All organisation, the beneficiary of the truck, is based.
Olivier vanden Eynde, director at Deloitte Belgium and founder and managing director of Close the Gap, said technology is fast changing the face of education.
“Learners today not only have computers to help them with schoolwork, they also use the internet for research while teachers use technology to enhance lessons.
“Yet, very little ICT infrastructure exists in vulnerable communities.”
He said he hopes the truck will positively impact the education of pupils in rural communities by using technology.
Since its inception in 2003, various Deloitte firms have joined the initiative, with Deloitte South Africa in on the partnership with the organisation as it provides projects with high-quality computers to developing countries.
“We realise that access to new technologies in rural and off-the-grid communities is a challenge.
“As a fully autonomous, solar-powered unit, the Deloitte DigiTruck will travel to various communities across the country to inspire learners to experience the power of technology through education,” explained vanden Eynde.
Brothers for All’s Sihle Tshabalala said he was proud to be associated with the initiative.
“Brothers for All is a non-profit organisation which teaches high school dropouts, teenage mothers, ex-convicts and prisoners in computer programming and skills.
“We teach them coding, building websites, blogs and mobile applications.”
Tshabalala hopes to take computer training directly into communities with the DigiTruck: “Its great to have found synergy with Close the Gap and to be able to work with them,” he said.