The awards recognise businesses, NGOs and individuals in a wide range of categories, including Energy and Carbon Efficiency Management, Community Renewable Energy Innovation and Community Conservation to name a few.
Samsung won the top award for the Green Technology Innovations category for its Solar-Powered Internet School (SPIS) initiative. This category rewards projects, organisations and companies for technological innovations aimed at a more efficient use of natural resources. These innovations offer real savings for natural capital and have the potential to be replicated.
Receiving the award on behalf of the company, Ntutule Tshenye, director, public affairs and corporate citizenship says; “Technology and education go hand-in-hand, which means that projects like the SPIS are at the forefront of integrating ICT into Africa’s education models. We hope to positively impact communities by providing them with tangible solutions which will enhance the lives of learners - the future leaders of our continent."
The Solar Powered Internet School is built in a 12-meter renovated shipping container that can accommodate up to 24 pupils, and is fitted with solar panels that power the equipment. Furthermore, it is equipped with a 65-inch large-format display screen, a teacher’s laptop, Samsung notebooks, a printer, and fans to cool the container.
The classroom’s computer server is loaded with educational content that covers the entire basic education syllabus, allowing facilitators to teach any subject or grade. An energy efficient LED lighting and an IP camera, which is designed to use 3G connectivity, allows for remote classroom monitoring.
Samsung provides the infrastructure needed but ultimately partners with government and communities in its upkeep. “Government has helped us identify underserved communities, areas where people need it most,” says Tshenye. “We’ve had a wonderful response with one of the schools, Phomolong Secondary School in Tembisa. We’ve walked the journey with them and seen how they’ve been able to get to a 100% pass rate. This makes it worth it. It’s great to see how they embraced it and have made it work for them.”
The initiative has been rolled out throughout the continent, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Mozambique.
For more information, visit www.samsung.com/africa. Alternatively connect with them on Twitter.