The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Dar es Salaam and Samsung Electronics have signed an agreement to build a digital village in Ololosokwan, Loliondo.
The agreement was signed by the UNESCO Country Representative and Head of Office, Ms. Zulmira Rodrigues and the Director of Samsung Electronics in Tanzania, Mr. Mike Seo at UNESCO’s office in Dar es Salaam on the 6th of November 2014.
The digital village to be built in Ololosokwan will comprise of an ICT enabled school with internet connection, a modern clinic with a telemedicine center and a solar energy generator to provide power to the village.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by Dr. Moshi Kimizi, the Acting Executive Secretary of UNESCO National Commission, Ms. Leah Kihimbi from the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr. Eliya from the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Dar es Salaam and UNESCO Dar es Salaam staff members.
During the ceremony, Ms. Rodrigues commented that the project will enable UNESCO to start educational programs for Maasai youth, who normally do not have access to education due to their nomadic way of life. “Through the digital village the youth will be able to continue with their studies even when they are grazing their herds”, said Ms. Rodrigues.
The Director of Samsung Electronics in Tanzania said that, among other benefits from the digital village, villagers in Loliondo will have access to cheaper and cleaner power from the solar energy generators. He said that, , Africa has been a leader in in this programme of establishing digital villages. African leadership in digital villages is demonstrating to the rest of the world how technology can be used to bring positive changes and development to local people living in rural areas.
Ms. Leah Kihimbi who represented the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports said that, through the digital village it will be possible to implement education programs while preserving the culture among the Maasai people who live in Loliondo.
The digital villages in Loliondo will be the fourth in Africa. It is expected that, through the cooperation between UNESCO and Samsung Electronics, another digital village is proposed to be built in Zanzibar in 2015.
For more information about the digital village project in Loliondo please contact Al-Amin Yusupha.yusuph@unesco.org
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