MTN hands over 4 new media centres

One of the media centres has been specifically built for learners with disabilities at Fulufhelo Special School.
The partnership, founded on the MTN SA Foundation Schools Connectivity Programme, is focused on providing digital access to South Africans with disabilities through schools and learning centres.
The foundation believes this area of education has, so far, been largely ignored or incorrectly aided.
According to the foundation, learners with mental and physical disabilities require specialised solutions that can be tailored to their specific needs regarding their disabilities and the extent to which they differ in severity. The 22-seater computer laboratory has specialised software such as Bric-a-Brac Skills software that caters for the learners with cerebral palsy, cognitive and learning disabilities, installed on the desktop computers.
The foundation’s School’s Connectivity Programme also delivered media centres to Kolokoshani Secondary School, Thohoyandou Secondary School and Sam Mavhina Secondary School.
The schools each received a state-of-the-art media centre with computer workstations fitted with curriculum-aligned content, interactive whiteboards, multi-functional printers, data projectors and subsidised MTN internet connectivity for 24 months.
“The MTN SA Foundation’s commitment to our vision of a ‘bold new digital world’ would remain unfulfilled if it were not shared with communities such as learners with disabilities, who are among the most challenged by the lack of resource and infrastructure,” states Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, General Manager of MTN SA Foundation.
“Partnering with the Department of Social Development through Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, has been insightful and incredibly helpful as it has ensured that we have a good understanding of some of the challenges of living in South Africa as a disabled person.
“This allows us to address the problem in a sustainable and responsible manner.”
Deputy Minister of the Department of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, addressed the Thohoyandou learners, educators and community.
She said: “The Department of Social Development is ensuring the implementation of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (WPRPD) and has handed over an Accessible Computer Centre, in partnership with MTN SA Foundation”.
She added that the provision of this lab will address Pillar 1 of the 9 Pillars contained in the WPRPD.
This pillar aims to ‘Remove Barriers to Access and Participation’ and Pillar 4 ‘Promoting and Supporting Empowerment of Children, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.