Intel joins 'Girls and Women in ICT' project

Intel will partner with local digital content company Sollywood for the 'Girls and Women in ICT' project, which will roll out Web sites and e-mail services to 500 local schools and their teachers and learners.

The International Telecommunications Union-endorsed project is due to launch on 17 May to mark World Telecommunications and Information Society Day.

With the global theme for this year's event being “Girls and Women in ICT”, the project will be officiated by 500 women in ICT, who will be deployed to the targeted 500 schools to link up with the girls in these schools to encourage them to enter the ICT sector.

Intel will assist the project by providing ICT volunteers and co-operatives with extensive training in order to provide the necessary services to schools and communities, through the Intel Easy Steps programme.

The Intel Teach programme will also provide professional development for teachers, helping them to integrate technology into their lessons. The Intel Teach programme has already successfully trained more than 10 million teachers in 70 countries.

Intel SA's education lead, Andre Christian, says: “The Sollywood business model is unique in that it helps Intel in our strategy of facilitating the adoption of ICT services, fitting in nicely with our broader focus on developing ICT skills within communities where people have had limited opportunity to acquire these skills.”

“Intel's recognition of this project is important as this marks the beginning of a long-term relationship. We are both interested in the increased adoption of ICT by communities and, in this instance, starting at school level,” says Sollywood CEO Linda Khumalo.

While the project will be launched on 17 May, Khumalo says it will be a long-term, ongoing initiative that will continuously work towards the ultimate goal of bringing all schools and learners in SA online.

Schools, sponsors and volunteers can still get involved. Those wanting to sponsor a local school can find out more by e-mailing sponsors@wtisd2012.co.za.

High schools wanting to be included in the project should submit their school profiles to highschools@wtisd2012.co.za for consideration. All interested ICT women or business leaders can participate by sending an e-mail to volunteers@wtisd2012.co.za. Sollywood is also appealing to all ICT co-operatives who want to be part of the project to reach out via coops@wtisd212.co.za.