16 August 2012 - BT today announced the opening of Infinite Family's mentoring laboratory in the Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg, allowing township teenagers to interact with role models who teach, discuss, challenge and encourage. Infinite Family's volunteer video mentors are located in 58 countries, including South Africa, and 39 US states. This containerised facility represents a major advance in video mentoring in the townships.
The new facility uses technology provided by BT to give teenagers in Alexandra access to high performance videoconferencing solutions, enabling them to engage with their mentors around the world, share video and get help with homework remotely by using modern collaboration tools.
The laboratory is the brainchild of Amy Stokes, founder of Infinite Family, a US-based organisation that connects communities ravaged by HIV/Aids in South Africa, with employees and individuals through Internet mentoring. The new facility is a prototype and is funded by BT.
Keith Matthews, general manager, BT sub-Saharan Africa, said at the opening ceremony: "BT is once again proud to collaborate with Infinite Family and be involved in this project as it reaches the most vulnerable in our society. The project enables youngsters to significantly improve their career prospects by acquiring much needed computer skills. It is a logical continuation of our local involvement and builds on the previous work BT has done in establishing the Nkosi's Haven Village communications centre."
"One of the keys to successful mentoring is to have a place that is conducive to a good experience - a place that works and that mentees want to go to. This new lab is that place," says Stokes. "It will benefit mentees and mentors alike by making the whole experience better - more reliable, comfortable, and private. This wonderful new facility goes a long way toward improving the quality of the mentoring experience, the primary goal of which is to augment what is learned in school and at home to help kids improve their confidence and self-reliance as they prepare for their lives as young adults. I'd like to thank again BT for their support. The lab was designed on a pro-bono basis by Perkins + Will, with assistance from atelier ten. The manufacturer is South Africa-based Absolute Container. Internet Solutions provided the connectivity required for the video bandwidth."
Some of the improved design elements that make this laboratory a special place include:
* Use of laptops instead of desktops for improved energy efficiency.
* Battery-powered backup to ensure continuity.
* Solar shading canopy to reduce the heat-gain from the sun.
* Ability to strategically place the container for optimum orientation to the sun and prevailing breezes.
* Features a wall of recycled water bottles, serving as a thermal mass to provide passive cooling inside the lab.
* Constructed using as many recycled materials as possible.
* Windows strategically placed to provide natural ventilation and lighting.
* Will grow a "vine wall" for additional shading and cooling within the laboratory.
* R-5 insulation to mitigate the majority of extreme climate conditions.
* The laboratory will ultimately be adapted for solar panel energy.
Matthews added: "BT is pleased to sponsor this pioneering development and we are thrilled by the green elements of the lab's design and operations. Being a responsible and sustainable business leader is one of BT's strategic business priorities. This is at the core of our Better Future strategy. We will work for this laboratory concept to be replicated elsewhere in South Africa and make a difference to computer literacy in this country. Mentoring in our disadvantaged areas should become much more widespread. Last year across the globe, we invested nearly £32 million in community activities, including supporting BT staff to volunteer time during the working month to contribute their expertise to worthy causes. This priority is also at the heart of BT's activity in South Africa. BT staff will be keen to volunteer their time to assist Infinite Family and make this laboratory a resounding success."
You can read more about BT's sustainability approach on www.bt.com/betterfuture.
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BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and Internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
In the year ended 31 March 2012, BT Group's revenue was £18.897 million, with profit before taxation of £2.445 million.
British Telecommunications (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For more information, visit www.btplc.com.
Infinite Family
Infinite Family is engaged in distance mentoring of underserved South African youth. It has mentored ~500 students in its short history with NGO partners in communities ravaged by HIV/Aids. Many are orphans enduring epic challenges. Their survival is built on hope and ambition.
Infinite Family's efforts support developing self-reliance so that mentored students can lead better lives in a stronger society. In its model, adults mentor students individually and face-to-face via the Internet and its proprietary mentoring platform. They are the role models who teach, discuss, encourage, befriend, and love.
Subject matter includes: Communications, Academics, Life Skills, Technology, and Career Preparation. It is currently developing with school, foundation, and corporate partners, programmes for Infinite Family mentors to encourage and reinforce students' understanding and appreciation of science and maths, as well as support for specific girls' programmes.
Its five-year goal is to open 100 mentoring labs capable of serving 11 000+ mentees a year.
For more information, visit www.infinitefamily.org.
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