Johannesburg-based Fundisa Comm Centre has decided to take ICT education to rural communities because founder Derek Naidoo believes private enterprise will succeed where government has failed.
"When government announced its aim of giving every rural person access to the Internet, I decided to fast-track my project to provide access that was independent of traditional infrastructure," says Naidoo. "Although the government`s aims were laudable, I knew it would never happen until the necessary infrastructure was in place, which would take a very long time."
Naidoo, who comes from an educational and technical background, says he is disillusioned with all the official structures that have been set up. "Teachers are leaving the profession left, right and centre because the people charged with delivering education are corrupt and funds are not reaching the people they are intended to help," declares Naidoo. "There is no accountability."
After 20 months of development and a personal investment of R2.5 million, Naidoo says he is able to deliver Internet access and ICT education to rural communities immediately. "Government will be able to make good on its promises only in 10 years, but Fundisa Comm Centres can make it available today."
He says there has been "phenomenal" support from corporates and universities.
Fundisa Comm Centres are fully fitted communication centres built into containers that can be delivered to rural communities to provide Internet and fax communications via satellite link. "The centres are independent of existing infrastructure," says Naidoo. "They even have their own generators to power workstations, servers, air-conditioning, lighting and security systems."
Fundisa`s containers are different from other container-based communication centres because they are completely self-contained and can be used in remote locations. Like other container-based units, Fundisa Comm Centres can be used by schools as well as deployed as community communication and learning centres.
"I don`t believe Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs) can do what needs to be done," says Naidoo. "They will stall the process and I am confident I will achieve much more on my own."
Naidoo says providing the means for people in the most remote areas to educate themselves in using modern technology will equip them with the tools to make a meaningful contribution to the country. "It is pointless flooding the job market with matriculants who don`t have the skills to make a contribution."
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