Dell and SHAWCO focus on digital inclusion by launching a transformed Solar Community Hub featuring a health clinic
Story Highlights
- Dell Technologies and SHAWCO have added a health clinic to the solar learning lab to create the Kensington Solar Community Hub
- Launched by Dell in 2014, updating South Africa’s first lab reflects digital inclusion efforts by offering medical consultations, check-ups and health screenings
- The Kensington Solar Community Hub is South Africa’s only Hub dedicated to supporting and improving the health of the community in addition to providing educational support
Dell Technologies, in partnership with SHAWCO, has launched the Kensington Solar Community Hub in Cape Town. The project has transformed the existing facility by adding a medical clinic that will provide members of the Kensington community with a wide range of healthcare services. These new services augment the educational offering which aims to equip the Kensington community with critical skills to be successful in the digital world such as International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) certifications.
Opened in 2014, The Kensington Solar Learning Lab was Dell’s first Lab in South Africa and its second globally. Initially focused on education, it now offers the community healthcare services that have not been accessible in the past. This addresses two pressing issues in South Africa: scant access to healthcare for communities such as Kensington and a marked digital divide which means only 10.4% of households have access to home internet, according to Statistics South Africa.
Dell has deployed Solar Community Hubs in 47 locations worldwide, supporting 13 countries and impacting more than 921,000 people. These hubs are designed based on the needs of each community and aim to provide access to the basic needs and digital skills needed to participate in the digital economy. There are currently 12 hubs in South Africa.
SHAWCO operates mobile health clinics and wellness programmes, offering free medical consultations, health education and preventative care to the community.
“Partnering with Dell Technologies for its inaugural Solar Community Hub in South Africa is a truly humbling and significant moment for us, said Jackie Stewart, Executive Director of SHAWCO.” This initiative has the potential to serve as a template for positive change, demonstrating what can be achieved in other regions of South Africa and on the broader Dell Giving map. We have a shared focus on the growth and impact of digital literacy and our commitment to closing the social fault lines in our country, especially in terms of access to technology and resources.”
Natasha Reuben, Head of Transformation at Dell Technologies in South Africa, said: “SHAWCO is the ideal partner for this initiative and helps ensure the Kensington community can receive dignified healthcare. We are proud and excited to bring healthcare, education and social support to this community through the evolution of this programme.“
Doug Woolley, Managing Director for Dell Technologies in South Africa, agreed. “The Kensington Solar Community Hub demonstrates our combined commitment and investment to support end-to-end growth for communities. We’re excited to expand our digital access mission with this hugely beneficial healthcare facility,” he said.
Key characteristics of the Kensington Solar Community Hub include:
- The health clinic is managed by the community and features multi-purpose rooms for health screening and other services, enabled by Dell solutions.
- SHAWCO runs its Beyond Education Health Clinics and Violence Protection Programme at the clinic.
- Three existing units have been repurposed and combined to create a unique structure of two 40-foot containers capable of hosting 23 computer users.
- The hub offers ICDL certification, enabling members of the community to certify their computer skills to an internationally recognised standard and to become certified ICDL trainers.
- The hub also offers training in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as coding.
- Community members can attend Summer School lectures broadcast from the University of Cape Town.
- Future plans for the hub include the addition of rainwater collection.
Power in Partnership
Dell collaborates with approximately 60 strategic partners globally, including Computer Aid International, a global non-profit partner for the Solar Community Hubs. Since 2011, Computer Aid has played a foundational, pivotal role in identifying the locations and partner needs from the Solar Learning Lab rollout and now the broader Solar Community Hub strategy.
Additional quotes
- “Thanks to the computer training I learned to send email and do my own posters and invites. I would love to develop my computer skills further to enhance my job opportunities. I was part of a group of 15 ladies from ‘Women for Change’, a City of Cape Town programme. We all come from poverty-stricken backgrounds and lacked confidence, but the instructors made the course fun and put us at ease. I would like to thank everyone who made this possible for my team and the community.” – Marian Kortjie, Community Member
- “The training programme was highly effective. The children enjoyed the classes, and the instructors were excellent. The parents were impressed by the skills the children learned and our teachers received much-needed digital literacy. Ongoing support from SHAWCO makes our partnership very beneficial. Thank you to Dell and SHAWCO for doing great work in our communities.” – Mymoena Anthony, Playtime Daycare Centre
Additional resources
- Read more about Dell’s Global Solar Hubs
- See how Dell’s global digital inclusion strategy supports our long-term goals
- Connect with Dell via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn
About SHAWCO
SHAWCO (Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation) is a distinguished non-profit organisation operating in South Africa, with a strong presence in and around Cape Town. What sets SHAWCO apart is its innovative approach to community development, one that relies on the active engagement of university students. Founded on the belief that students possess the energy, enthusiasm and access to resources necessary for making a substantial impact in the lives of underprivileged and marginalised individuals and communities, SHAWCO channels the skills and dedication of student volunteers into a diverse range of essential services.
About Dell Technologies
Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry’s broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era.
