IN a bid to help address cost challenges associated with access to education and career websites, Vodacom, through its foundation and its NXT LVL youth brand, has zero-rated the charge to some key basic educational sites and career portals.

The interventions are an illustration of Vodacom s core belief that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and mobile technology can be utilised to improve and advance learning, address skills development and help in finding employment. The Vodacom e-School portal, launched in January 2015, and the NXT LVL Careers launched in 2016, are prime examples of how Vodacom is contributing to society.

The e-School provides curriculum-aligned content for Grade 4 to 12 learners such as daily lessons, videos, assignments in the form of quizzes and personalised progress reports.

This is zero-rated, in other words free, for customers. Already there are 150 000 learners registered on the portal. The portal can be accessed by visiting www.vodacom.co.za/e

from your cellphone, tablet or laptop. The Foundation s executive head Mthobeli Tengimfene says: Many learners in our country often do not have access to learning material such as textbooks, which makes excelling at school more difficult. The same applies to young graduates looking for employment, as more job placements go online and the costs of data is a barrier.”

Tengimfene says: As an investor in the country and an established partner in addressing social challenges, the goal is to ensure that learners throughout the country have access to some basic tools to help enhance their learning experience. Similarly, to make sure that young graduates get help in searching for jobs.

As a caring company with a 17-year history of giving back to communities, Vodacom is committed to easing the cost conundrum that young job seekers face. The Vodacom NXT LVL Careers programme is aimed at enabling young job-seekers to browse for jobs, upload CVs and apply for available positions for free. It can be accessed through the

website, then clicking on and then on NXT LVL Careers.