UK charity, Roke Telkom partner to provide free internet kiosks throughout the country

Telecommunications company, Roke Telkom and Hello World, a UK-based charity that provides access to digital education for remote and marginalized communities, have partnered to build eight internet hubs around the country.

Named Hello World Hubs, the solar-powered, outdoor, Internet-connected computer kiosks are designed to provide communities with access to educational software, games, video and communication platforms.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership, the Roke Telkom CEO, Roger Sekaziga said such an initiative was part of their corporate social responsibility investments in the country.

“We took the conscious decision to be a virtuous corporate citizen that is wholly devoted to conducting our business in a responsible manner, a mindset that kick-started the company’s annual corporate social responsibility initiative dubbed ‘Roke gives back’ in 2016,”Sekaziga said.

He noted that the new partnership with Hello World will help further their activities.

“We believe it is a brilliant project and Roke Telkom is happy to support initiatives like this that are intended to transform and improve the quality of life of people in our communities, especially children.”

He revealed that these internet kiosks will be set up in various parts of the country.

Katrin McMillan, the founder and CEO for Hello World said their goal is to see that people in hard to reach areas also enjoy internet services.

“We are in an education emergency. There are 69 million teachers needed to hit the current targets, and, shockingly, there are 263 million children who have no access to education at all. We know that education is the only way to give children a fair start in life and it is time to ensure that this massive deficit is ended once and for all,” McMillan said.

He noted that the Hello internet hubs have been developed using the latest technology so that children can access integrated online learning even in the most isolated environments.

The internet kiosks powered by solar will be erected in Nakivale refugee camp, Fort Portal and Kampala among other areas and will be connected to the Roke Telkom internet.