To bring hope and make a positive impact on the lives of residents, The Lesego Digital Village facilities deliver primary health care to the community. The clinic comprises of three consulting rooms, which offer mother and child health-care services, ultra-sound scanner, blood analysis, immunisation and vaccination services, an X-ray department with a Samsung digital X-ray machine for general radiology services, reception area, dispensary, ablution facilities, kitchenette, outside waiting area, guardhouse, and a hybrid solar power plant.

Additionally, a smart classroom is kitted out with 40 tablets, an interactive e-board and printer. This is where classes will be streamed for community health worker training. A learning centre is also in development at Kraaipan and Taletso FET College in Mahikeng has agreed to Partner with Samsung and the Ratlou Municipality to present accredited courses.

In the spirit of “skilling the youth for entrepreneurship and employability”, Samsung offered courses to two groups of 20 young women and men. The first group of 20 received training in cell phone repair and the second 20 were trained in electronic waste management, which includes recognising electronic waste and how to go about extracting and selling what is valuable.

Mr Sung Yoon, CEO of Samsung Electronics South Africa said in his opening speech: “At Samsung, we believe in creating innovative products and services that make a positive impact on people’s lives and I am confident this initiative will make a significant difference in this community.”

Over the past three years, Samsung has had the privilege of being involved in other projects in North West. These include two mobile clinics donated to the Department of Health; two Smart Classrooms – at Oukasie near Brits and one at Ga-Maubane, west of Sun City. Also at Ga-Moabane, Samsung established a solar-powered health centre and an Engineering Academy at Mogwase, which is just east of Sun City. The Engineering Academy specialises in skilling learners about refrigeration, air conditioning and electronics. Samsung has also donated air conditioners and domestic appliances to Thari Mmelegi Orphanage at Monakato, which houses more than 60 children.

The community members were deeply grateful for the Digital village and are looking forward to taking advantage of the life-enhancing facilities and technology.

This year, South African women celebrate the 61^st anniversary of the Women’s March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, protesting pass laws. Although great strides have been made since then, women are still largely excluded from certain sectors, despite being the country’s economic driving force. Millions of women across the country’s townships are left destitute, often with no way of caring for their families.

According to *StatsSA, the unemployment rate in South Africa is currently at 27.7%, and according to the 2017 Grant Thornton Women in Business report, only 28% of senior management positions in South Africa are filled by women. This figure has gone up by only 2 percentage points in the past 15 years, an indicator of the slow integration process. However, Samsung’s Women Technical Programme is working to balance the scales quicker.

Richard Chetty, Director of Services at Samsung South Africa, explains that women have been excluded from the electronics field for far too long, “Women have an eye for detail and deliver quality work, which makes them ideal for this sector. To address the gender disparity in the industry and to add to the pool of talented technical specialists required to service and support the growing consumer electronics and mobile phone markets, we welcome women into Samsung’s technical programme.”

This programme has seen the first intake of 16 young women graduate from the programme and they are now all employed at Samsung Service Centres in Gauteng. The second intake of women are due to complete their training in September, providing them the opportunity to receive skills and become self-sufficient.

The women included in Samsung’s Women Technical Programme are between the ages of 18 and 25, are from the townships around Ekurhuleni and have already completed a college qualification. If they have not secured employment, they are then accepted in this programme. They complete a six-month in-depth technical training course, followed by a month of in-service training. Once, after gaining the technical knowledge they need, students are exposed to the public and are taught the ins and outs of client service. Students return to Samsung’s Women Technical Programme to round out their training. Service Centres can offer the fully trained students permanent employment, providing them with the first stepping stone to a career in the electronics sector.

“Samsung is ensuring that women are taking up more space in the electronics field and of that, we are proud,” concludes Chetty.

*Source: http://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=9960