Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.officially handed over its Digital Village, the flagship project first unveiled in October. The village, located in Malibongwe Ridge, provides the South African community education and health services. The Digital Village includes a solar-powered internet school equipped with Samsung Notebooks and Netbooks; a solar generator; and health, tele-medical, and admin centers powered via solar.
Samsung signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (DED), which is committed to exploring and investing in green technologies for green economies. “Everyone speaks of the need to bridge the digital divide, but we can only really achieve this if we focus on the core objective of changing lives for the better,” said George Ferreira, VP and COO, Samsung Electronics Africa. “The UN says being online is now seen as fundamental to human development, and access to the Internet may soon become a basic human right, like access to water. Our challenge was to look at what was needed versus what was available and devise a plan that connected the two.”
“We are encouraged by the work Samsung is doing in the green technology space. This type of out-of-the-box thinking is what will make a measurable and meaningful difference in people’s lives and, ultimately, change the world. The Digital Village aligns with government’s vision of finding alternative solutions to African problems, and we are proud to be a part of it,” Albert Chanee, head of the DED, said.
Visit our Facebook pageor follow us on Twitterto receive even more news and updates from Alternative Energy Africa.