The Internet Society has awarded a grant to the ISOC South Africa Foundation to open a media centre in Mamaila Village, Limpopo. The Media Centre will provide internet access in a remote area with no access to telecom operator services. The funding will enable the Mamaila Tribal Authority to install Wi-Fi access points within the community
The Internet Society Foundation was established in 2019 to centralize and target funding for projects that will improve the quality of people’s lives around the globe. The Foundation awards grants to Internet Society Chapters, non-profit organizations, Initiatives that build community capacity to access and benefit from the internet, Initiatives that respond to natural disasters; Initiatives that demonstrate innovative techniques and Local and regional projects supported by Internet Society.
Sarah Armstrong, Executive Director of the Internet Society Foundation explained that they received more than 40 applications from around the globe and after a three-month process of intense revision and analysis by a committee, they selected 13 winning projects located in the following countries; South Africa, Turkey, Dominica, Canada, Armenia, Paraguay, Hong Kong, Portugal, Switzerland, USA, Nicaragua, Madagascar and Mali.
The $30,000 grant will improve the lives of its members through access to information and upskilling and will also develop the community through training on cybersecurity, content development, entrepreneurship, the infrastructure and maintenance of community networks.
According to Yandisa Sokhanyile, Chairperson of Marketing and Branding at the Internet Society South Africa “This is our concerted effort to help drive growth and development, especially while South Africa is grappling with one of the highest levels of unemployment (29%) in the world and a shortage in critical skills,”.
