Afrika Tikkun gets massive Internet upgrade from Workonline Communications boosting connectivity for thousands of learners across the country
Workonline Communications, a pan-African,
global Network Service Provider, has radically increased its long-term commitment
to providing Internet facilities to Afrika Tikkun Centres of Excellence across
South Africa. The five centres, which
benefit over nine thousand young people, will receive an impressive connectivity
upgrade thanks to the commitment of the Workonline team, bringing them in line
with world-class academic institutions.
Workonline Communications has
been generously providing Internet connectivity to all five centres since 2016. The upgrade, which requires some intricate
logistics considering the location of the centres, will significantly improve
the Internet speed and educational experience of the youth who attend the
centres.
Although Workonline doesn’t
provide commercial enterprise services in its usual course of business, the
leadership of Afrika Tikkun, under direction of the Lubner family, as well as
Edward Lawrence and Ben Maddison who founded Workonline Communications, both share
a commitment to excellence and a passion for helping South Africa become a
world-class nation worthy of all who live in it.
Afrika Tikkun Centres of Excellence are little worlds unto themselves; vibrant spaces where information relating to education, skills, careers and life is shared. Aware that the kids of today live in a world increasingly characterised by digital interconnectedness, Afrika Tikkun’s centres also attempt to carve out technological hubs where information is just a click away.
To meet the needs of an
adapting generation, Afrika Tikkun’s Cradle to Career 360° model includes the
use of computer labs and multi-media rooms that are integral resources for
those in the Children and Youth Development Programme (CYD) and Career
Development Programme (CDP) respectively. However, their efforts to transform their
centres into spaces that truly reflect 21st century technological efficiency has
not always matched their vision, largely due to limited bandwidth. This has
compromised the ability of their young people to access and share information
quickly, explore the potential of innovation and participate fully in local and
global communication platforms. Poor bandwidth has also impacted the running of
the centres more broadly.
The growing partnership between
Afrika Tikkun and Workonline Communications has addressed this and will
undoubtedly have a significant and positive impact on Afrika Tikkun’s young
people and the South African economy.
Although, admittedly, connecting
the centres at such high speeds has been a challenge for the Workonline team due
to the physical locations of the centres, we have worked tirelessly and
persevered to ultimately achieve the desired result. Through this extension of
the partnership, the quality of the Internet service at Afrika Tikkun’s centres
will be on par with other leading academic institutions in the world.
CEO of Afrika Tikkun Services,
Onyi Nwaneri says, “The expected changes we anticipate with this upgrade will
make the lives of our children and young people so much better, which is our goal.
For some time, our centres have been unable to utilise certain equipment as a
result of slow Internet connectivity. The generosity of Workonline will
certainly change this and the potential impact of utilising a full complement
of equipment in a centre is an exciting unknown”.
Instead of having to divide and
rotate the time allocated for Internet use between different groups, more
children will be able to use the equipment at the same time. The accelerated Internet
speed will allow for broader and more efficient online searches, enriching the
learning experience and improving learning outcomes. This will also allow for
further implementation of e-learning skills programmes that will improve the
ability of young people to increase their skills, search for jobs and
potentially transition to employment or self-employment. At the level of centre
management, better internet connectivity will ensure administrative tasks and
communication are streamlined.
“Access to the Internet is such
an incredible enabler,” says Edward Lawrence, co-founder and director of
Workonline Communications. “In fact, most of the academic knowledge I have
today I have learnt from having access to the Internet! The Workonline team’s commitment
to continuously improving the Internet experience across communities in South
Africa, and indeed across sub-Saharan Africa, is based on this premise. Our partnership with Afrika Tikkun allows us
to play a small part in helping communities to share skills, best practice and
training and ultimately, extend the incredible impact that Afrika Tikkun already
has on the South African economy.”
It remains undeniable that
organisations must develop their capacity to operate effectively in a digital
space. Our children, the majority of whom make up Generation Z or
post-millennials, must be equipped with the skills to engage effectively in the
cyber environment, draw as much helpful information as possible, and connect
with like minds across the country, region and world. Afrika Tikkun and
Workonline are about to make this happen.
For all your digital and
connectivity needs, visit www.workonline.africa.