South Africans have options to learn new technology skills and expand their careers.
Unemployment and a lack of skills sometimes seem to dominate headlines in South Africa. Yet while these are serious problems, there are many initiatives and projects that are helping lift thousands out of poverty and dead-end careers.
Vodacom is an active participant in helping people access new skills and broaden their horizons, supporting numerous projects and initiatives that provide free educational courses, resources, and access to experts. Here are several of the Vodacom Group’s leading digital education initiatives.
Vodacom e-Learning
The Vodacom e-Learning platform empowers students to learn anywhere without data costs, accessing easy-to-follow video lessons for grades R-12 on their smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Developed by expert teachers, the lessons are designed so that each student can follow their own pace. They can evaluate their progress across subjects and earn badges and certificates. Available in multiple languages and aligned to the CAPS education standard, the e-learning includes helpful workbooks and posters for a comprehensive learning experience.
Code Like A Girl
Code Like A Girl increases female representation in STEM careers by offering a structured educational programme to underprivileged girls aged 14 to 18. The programme introduces coding basics and related career paths to bridge current and future skills gaps, delivered through hybrid 5-Day Coding Bootcamps, virtual lessons, and on-site sessions – the latter hosted at nineteen Vodacom Schools of Excellence across South Africa. Code Like A Girl has already helped thousands of women gain crucial skills and create careers in many different industries.
Mobile Education Programme
The Vodacom Mobile Education Programme empowers young South Africans by providing access to quality education. This broad initiative supplies IT equipment and zero-rated content to over 2,000 schools and 91 teacher centres, enabling internet access and e-learning. Its teacher training programmes equip educators with the latest technology and knowledge to engage their students. Vodacom e-School, a free, CAPS-aligned online platform endorsed by the Department of Basic Education, offers lessons, videos, quizzes, and progress reports for grades R-12. Additionally, Vodacom recently zero-rated access to major South African university websites.
Youth Academy
The Vodacom Foundation’s Youth Academy bridges the opportunity gap by equipping disadvantaged youth with vital Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills. In partnership with Cisco, MICT-Seta, and the Department of Basic Education, the 12-month programme aims to train 4,000 young South Africans by 2025 and has already trained 2,000 graduates. This demanding course offers unemployed youth from impoverished backgrounds a pathway to internships, workplace experience, and career opportunities. Vodacom is already employing graduates as ICT coordinators and training facilitators, actively contributing to job creation.
Connected Digital Education
Vodacom’s Connected Digital Education ensures learners, educators, and institutions stay switched on through accessible and affordable data, alongside additional benefits. This initiative bridges the affordability gap, enabling “school as usual” for more individuals. By improving digital literacy and providing collaboration tools, educators gain new insights into student progress. They can offer better feedback and have more opportunities to share their knowledge with others. Using technology to expand its impact, this initiative supports essential digital skills, collaboration, and problem-solving in modern learning. Education Bundles, including VPN and Anytime Data Bundles, help educators and learners benefit from comprehensive and connected digital education.
Digital Skills Hub
The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub is the ultimate destination for digital learning and career advancement. Whether someone is starting their digital journey or wants to improve and expand their technology skills, the hub’s diverse courses cater to all levels. Developed with experts, these comprehensive courses address the dynamic digital economy. The hub focuses on 14 core digital skills crucial for the future – including cybersecurity, blockchain, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence – to complement the evolving needs of tech-driven businesses and our digital society. Vodacom aims to upskill 1 million young Africans with essential core digital skills for the modern workforce.
