Posts in category: News

JCI Ghana supports afiDE Ghana to offer Free
Computerlabs to Schools

On September 29th, 2023, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ghana and afiDE Ghana announced their collaboration to provide free Computerlabs to schools in Ghana. The primary objective of this partnership is to help schools where children of JCI members go to, raise awareness and funds for digital skills development.

JCI Ghana is a community-based organization of young active citizens aged 18-40 who are engaged and committed to creating an impact in their communities. JCI Ghana recognizes the need to mobilize society to boost the digital skills of students nationwide.

afiDE Ghana is a social enterprise founded by Nana Moses Aidoo (RecellGhana LTD) and Hanc de Bokx (1A Computerlabs) to partner with schools in Ghana to boost the digital skills of students. afiDE Ghana has adopted the Computerlab-as-a-Service model from the co-founder from the Netherlands. This service model includes a fully equipped free Computerlab that can be used as part of the long-term partnership, taking away the need for an investment for a computer lab.

Currently, only 12% of 15-24-year-olds have basic computer skills, according to research by MICS-EAGLE in 2020, which makes it challenging for graduates to find jobs in today’s job market. Especially knowledge-intensive jobs in business, government, and at startups require people with digital skills. To support schools in delivering digital skills education long-term, Computerlabs-as-a-Service includes all services imaginable to deliver modern computer-based education for an affordable fee.

Joint activities to mobilize funding with Schools

Many schools, especially public schools, cannot easily afford the regular service fee to use Computerlab-as-a-Service, which is otherwise quite affordable. To help these schools, JCI Ghana has come forward to mobilize its members. They aim to raise awareness among JCI members about the potential for partnerships between schools and afiDE Ghana to improve computer-based education. The activities will include identifying schools interested in using Computerlabs, developing and executing fundraising programs, and seeking support from businesses, NGOs, churches, communities, families, and other organizations. Additionally, they will help schools raise funds through fundraising or sponsorship approaches.

During their meeting at JCI Ghana headquarters in Accra, the President of JCI and the Executive Director of afiDE Ghana reaffirmed their commitment to helping the current generation of students keep pace with the ever-evolving digital world. To bridge the technology gap in education, society must support schools in gathering resources to make Digital Skills education an integral part of our children’s learning journey.

We’re on a mission to offer children in Ghana the opportunity to develop their ICT skills, which are crucial 21st-century abilities that will help launch Ghana into the digital age.

While the Ghana government, schools, and teachers have worked hard to implement the National ICT curriculum all over the country, there are still years to come before all children can have access to computers to practice what they have learned. In an age where digital literacy is an essential driver for development, two entrepreneurs have taken the initiative to develop a sustainable solution for schools that currently have no computer lab to teach their learners practical ICT skills.

Complete long-term offering for Education

Moses Nana Aidoo from RecellGhana and Hanc de Bokx from 1A Computerlabs in The Netherlands have done their homework in the past years. The newly established social enterprise Computerlabs Ghana LBG, branded afiDE Ghana, does not only offer the computer system with 21 stations needed but also the software, training, and support. Every Computerlab comes with a 5-year Computerlab-as-a-Service contract for internet and maintenance to ensure hassle-free computer-based education for the long term because we all know maintenance in Ghana is a challenge!

Large donor for 40 public schools in the Greater Accra region

The social entrepreneurs that founded Computerlabs Ghana LBG have secured a substantial subsidy from the German Development Organisation (DEG) to install computer labs at 40 schools in the Greater Accra region. Thanks to this subsidy the schools only must find the funds to cover internet fees and maintenance for the 5-year contract. This 5-year assurance of hassle-free computer education only costs from 4 cedi per child per school month (9 months/year). In the first pilot with schools in 2021, it was proven that public schools were able to raise the funds for this 5-year contract through PTA’s, alumni associations, community funds, and/or business sponsors. For public schools in the Greater Accra region without a computer lab and 300-900 learners, it’s time to apply for one of our managed Computerlabs to be installed at your school. Apply fast before we run out!

Looking for more partners

Computerlabs Ghana is looking for partners in Ghana and beyond to make Computerlab-as-a-Service available for as many schools as possible and boost digital literacy in Ghana. If you also want to give children the chance to develop their ICT skills, join forces with Computerlabs Ghana. There are different ways to become part of the solution, for instance; donate working computer equipment, sponsor the school of your children, gather support in your community for computer labs at schools or you may have other ideas that can contribute. Together we can change the future of our children!

About 1A Computerlabs The Netherlands

1A First Alternative The Netherlands was founded by Hanc de Bokx in 2001. This specialised ‘Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) company has developed its own technology to automatically manage computer networks remotely. For the education market, it has set up 1A Computerlabs BV to deliver Computerlab-as-a-Service to schools. 1A First Alternative is an ISO 27001 certified, accredited Microsoft Gold partner managing over 600 computer systems in The Netherlands.