Samsung Electronics Africa has devised an initiative which combats the economic challenges around limited access to electricity in Africa by harnessing solar power.
The campaign, Digital Village, makes use of renewable and environmentally friendly resources for socio-economic upliftment in both rural villages and urban neighbourhoods that are subjected to fluctuating electricity supply and as a result have limited access to education, healthcare and connectivity.
On average, less than 25% of rural areas on the continent benefit from electricity.
Ntutule Tshenye, head of public affairs and shared value creation at Samsung Electronics Africa says: “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. Like many businesses, our challenge was to look at what was needed versus what was available and devise a plan that connected the two.
He continues: “The critical need for alternatives to the current electricity shortage problem has prompted us to develop products, under our Built For Africa umbrella, that capitalise on the sun’s energy and we once again demonstrate how we are using our core business strengths as an enabler to positively impact lives.”
All solutions within the Samsung Digital Village have been developed to be low- maintenance, cost-effective, mobile, easy to set up, suited to the harsh African climate and built with extended lifecycles.
The Digital Village comprises of various solar powered initiatives:
• Internet schools with mobile and completely independent classrooms.
• Generators that can be deployed in less than an hour or daisy chained for homeowners, small businesses, remote border posts and schools.
• A Telemedical centre for the treatment of basic illnesses.
• LED lanterns that are expected to provide lighting for more than 10 years while producing no greenhouse gases.
“The initiative is an example of Samsung’s investment in CSR on the continent: a keen focus on education, healthcare and access and harnessing the company’s legacy of innovation to respond to the felt needs of people on the continent,” concludes Tshenye.
