Modern CSR is being sensitive to people’s needs - Samsung

SAMSUNG Electronics Africa public affairs and corporate citizenship manager Abey Tau says modern corporate social responsibility is about adopting vested interest in the communities, being sensitive to and aware of their needs, challenges and potential. And Samsung Zambia business leader James Chona says responsible corporate citizenship is crucial to the relevance and sustainability of the nation’s economy through relevant research.

Samsung Zambia, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Zambia, have donated a containerised solar powered Internet school furnished with 28 laptops, all with Internet connectivity, to Kabwe’s Hamududu Primary School.

“The classroom’s computer server is loaded with educational content that covers the entire basic education syllabus, allowing facilitators to teach any subject or grade. An energy efficient LED lighting and an IP camera, which is designed to use 3G connectivity, allows for remote classroom monitoring.

The solar powered Internet school is a built-in 12-metre renovated shipping container that can accommodate up to 24 pupils, and is fitted with solar panels that power the equipment. Furthermore, it is equipped with a 65 inch large electronic touch screen board,” explained Tau. And speaking during the handover of the K950,000 solar powered Internet school, education deputy minister Sydney Mushanga said access to information was the foundation to creating change through skills and opportunities among the nation’s rural communities.

Mushanga said the needs of Zambians were constantly changing and citizens needed to dialogue and rise to challenges. “So on behalf of the ministry, I would say that we look forward to sitting down and discussing ways in which we can make this an ongoing project; we look forward to making follow-ups, forming additional partnerships with other stakeholders and seeing how we can make this project even bigger,” said Mushanga.

And Hamududu School manager Metrody Bubala said the solar-powered Internet school would expose teachers, pupils and the community to the information, communication technology and facilitate the acquisition of research skills not only for that school but for other education facilities in the area.

-The Post