Samsung Electronics has launched a digital village in the Democratic Republic of Congo located in the central part of Africa. The digital village is situated in Kasenga, north-east of Lubumbashi. The intent of launching the digital village is to encourage government and local business development by providing under-resourced areas with health, communication and education services.
The village has a solar-powered generator, a solar-powered internet school and Tele-Medical Centre. The solar powered generator services the administrative centre which doubles ups as a co-working space for local entrepreneurs and institutions with inadequate power supply.
“The Digital Village demonstrates our innovative approach to investing in people and their communities. This initiative offers a complete educational infrastructure, comprehensive healthcare solution and power generation capabilities that will spur the growth of small businesses and harness the energy of the sun to minimise running costs, amongst others,” stated Bill Kim – the MD of Samsung Electronics East Africa, DRC.
He went on to add: “The United Nations says being online is now seen as fundamental to human development, and access to the Internet may soon become a basic human right, like access to water. We also understand that success in Africa requires commitment to creating the market and infrastructure around it – not just entering it. That’s why we are putting resources into a variety of initiatives across the continent that are designed to address the unique needs and conditions of the continent.”
The digital village brings a sustainable solution to the dire need of African communities for improved standards of living. Samsung has plans to eventually transfer ownership of the facilities in the digital village to the Kasenga community but first needs to train community dwellers on the use and maintenance of the facilities in the digital village.
