Bringing digital inclusion to life in rural Loskop

Project Isizwe, a South African non-profit organization, has recently implemented a project in the rural Loskop area of KwaZulu-Natal to bring much needed internet access to six schools and 120 homes. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and empower the community through improved education and enhanced connectivity. 

We asked Project Isizwe some questions about the location of this project, their learnings from Mpophomeni, and the long term impact of their efforts. Curious? Keep reading! 

Why did you choose to do this project around Loskop mountain?

Enabled by an existing partnership with 3Bears, Project Isizwe connected an initial 5 schools and community projects to Free WiFi for Education in 2021. Working in this area, Project Isizwe has realized the depth and reality of digital exclusion in this remote region. These were the driving factors behind focusing this project on Loskop.

Many residents lack access to reliable internet, significantly limiting educational and economic opportunities. By connecting schools and homes, the project seeks to create a foundation for improved learning outcomes, enhanced community engagement, and economic growth within this underserved area.

How will this community network impact the community in the future?

The network is already having positive impacts for the schools and community. Over 1,600 teachers and learners in six schools have gained free WiFi access. This not only enhances learning opportunities within classrooms but also saves an estimated R1.2 million in mobile data costs. Educators have undergone training workshops to effectively integrate technology into their teaching, fostering a more engaging and interactive learning environment.

Internet access in 120 homes across Loskop is bridging the digital divide, enabling residents to connect with family and friends, access educational resources, government services, and essential information for personal and professional development, and foster economic potential through this sales and commission of WiFi bundles, supporting the network’s maintenance and creating new job opportunities in network management and sales.

Looking ahead, the R5 WiFi community network should have far reaching impacts. Internet access will enable residents to explore online business opportunities, e-commerce ventures, and remote work possibilities, contributing to local entrepreneurship. The connectivity will facilitate access to online healthcare resources and medical information, ultimately improving the overall healthcare. 

Additionally, internet connectivity is expected to strengthen social development through access to government services, educational resources, and social justice initiatives. Lastly, digital access brings the potential to unlock a brighter future for the residents, fostering educational advancement, economic empowerment, and improved social well-being. 

What learnings are you bringing with you in this project from the Mpophomeni model?

The Mpophomeni project demonstrated a strong and sustained demand for home internet access. This valuable insight led to a greater emphasis on residential installations in Loskop – in particular influencing the process of creating the pipeline of homes to be connected – ensuring that the network can effectively begin to meet the needs of the community.

The success of Mpophomeni highlighted the key role of resellers in driving WiFi adoption and sustainability. Sipho and Lihle, two resellers in Mpophomeni, have acted as key stakeholders, promoting the service, ensuring network stability, and driving ongoing sales. Their active engagement and feedback have been crucial for network improvement and customer satisfaction in Mpophomeni. 

These learnings meant that it has been important for us to identify local champions in Loskop to fulfill the same roles. Having Sammy, Portia and Sanele in place to do this sales and support work in Loskop will enable the same impact in this project.

Are there any big differences between this project and the previous project in Mpophomeni?

While both the Loskop and Mpophomeni projects aim to bring affordable internet access to underserved communities, there are 2 key differences.

Loskop is a more rural and geographically dispersed community compared to Mpophomeni, which is a more established township setting. This presented unique challenges in terms of network deployment and coverage in Loskop and may also prove to be a factor in the financial sustainability to the project longer term. The initial higher sales of 7 and 30 Day Bundles are already a very good indication towards sustainability and potentially indicates that because homes are removed from physical resellers buying is done differently. 

Focus on education and training. The Loskop project has a stronger emphasis on providing internet for teaching and learning into classrooms in the six schools. Loskop educators also received training workshops and in-person onboarding, ensuring that teachers can effectively utilize the technology and integrate it into their teaching practices. The school twinning program has also been incorporated to foster international collaborations. This educational component was less prominent in the Mpophomeni project.