Samsung, UNESCO partnership boosts access to innovative healthcare and quality education

Samsung Digital Village to serve remote Maasai community in Tanzania

ARUSHA, Tanzania, 31 October 2016,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Samsung Electronics Africa has partnered with UNESCO in Tanzania to launch a multi-disciplinary programme that aims to provide and advance innovative community development strategies in health, education and socio-cultural and economic development. The project, which is part of Samsung's Corporate Citizenship strategy, will provide access to innovative healthcare and educational needs of the Maasai community in Ololosokwan, Ngorongoro District bordering the UNESCO World Heritage site and the world famous Serengeti ecosystem.

Launched on Saturday, the 29th of October 2016, the Digital Village consists of a Samsung Solar-Powered Internet School, a Samsung Solar-Powered Health Centre, a Solar-Powered Admin Centre, Solar Power Generator and a Solar Powered Tele-medicine Centre. The multi-donor event also marked the launch of a radio station, Loliondo FM, and the Community Art Space (CAS), a centre for the Maasai culture and crafts. The Solar-Powered Internet School is built in a 12-metre repurposed container that can accommodate up to 24 learners, and is fitted with solar panels that power the equipment. An interactive whiteboard, Samsung Galaxy note PCs, a printer and fans to cool the container are also provided to aid both the teacher and learners.

The Solar Powered Health Centre will provide a variety of eye, ear, blood, dental and pre- and post-natal screening and treatments. A ‘Mother and Child' centre will specifically provide medical services to mothers and their babies.

Ms. Patricia King'ori, Head of Marketing of Samsung Electronics East Africa said: “When people are healthy and educated, they can become active participants in the economy. Our partnership with UNESCO in this instance is notable in that we are fulfilling both of these needs with the Internet School and the Health Centre.”

Ms. Zulmira Rodrigues, Head of Office UNESCO Tanzania said: “The programme is specifically designed to benefit the remote communities of Tanzania that often lack access to even basic social services and struggle to attain cultural and environmental sustainability. It will be a platform for holistic community development for UNESCO sectors, government and other development partners.” Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Mrisho Gambo, Regional Commissioner of Arusha Region said: “We appreciate the technology that has been brought to this village by Samsung. This technology will help the community, especially the women and children as they are the most vulnerable.”

A number of strategic development plans, including Tanzania's Development Vision 2025 plan, recognise that ICT is central to the country's competitive social and economic transformation. “These plans prioritise improved living standards, high-quality education and healthcare, decent work and better economic opportunities for citizens through public-private partnerships and through nurturing the skills and knowledge of the people. They are aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals of achieving good health, wellbeing, quality education and clean energy, as well as decent work for all,” adds Ms. Kingori.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Samsung Electronics Africa.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. We are also leading in the Internet of Things space through, among others, our Smart Home and Digital Health initiatives. We employ 319,000 people across 84 countries with annual sales of US $196 billion. To discover more, please visit our official website at www.samsung.com
and our official blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com

About UNESCO
UNESCO was born on 16 November 1945. UNESCO's mission is to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO was created in order to respond to the firm belief of nations, forged by two world wars in less than a generation that political and economic agreements are not enough to build a lasting peace. Peace must be established on the basis of humanity's moral and intellectual solidarity. UNESCO Dar es Salaam is a National Office which was established in 1974 that works in collaboration with the Government of United Republic of Tanzania, Civil Society, Private Sector and development partners within the United Nations Development Assistance framework with other UN Agencies to develop and strengthen policies and programmes with the aim to further the building of peace, poverty eradication, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

Contact:
Sthe Shabangu
Samsung Electronics Africa
Tel: +27-11-549-4517
Mobile: +27-71-683 2337
S.Shabangu@samsung.com

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