We are proud to announce the opening of our latest e-Learning lab at Kapanda Secondary School in Malawi, in partnership with RIPPLE Africa. How wonderful to see this eagerly awaited project come to fruition! ​This  facility has been equipped with 60 desktop computers for students, one laptop for the teacher, a digital projector and a laser printer.

Previously the school had just five laptops but with the new lab they are are the only community day school in the area with such impressive ICT facilities. This will have a real impact on the levels of IT literacy in the district and enable more people to access ICT education. 

School building work started in June and the computer lab was officially handed over to the school at the end of September. The whole team have worked really hard to complete it in such a short time and to such a high standard. The computers are pre-installed with educational resources and the aim is for the students to be equipped with computer literacy skills so they can sit and pass exams to prepare them for the future educational and employment opportunities.

Collaboration brings great results and we are committed to working with our partners to transform the provision of quality education.

We are thrilled to receive the GEM Exemplar Employer accolade which recognises an employer's commitment to the value of providing opportunities which enhance employability and life skills, as well as creating a positive impact on the community.
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A GEM Exemplar Employer is an organisation that believes every person should have an opportunity to engage in meaningful work. An Exemplar Employer goes the extra mile by providing an opportunity or opportunities for people who are finding it difficult to enter or re-enter the world of work.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with GEM to support and train people currently out of work and help to provide pathways into further education or employment.

We are excited to start a new project in Cameroon, in conjunction with MASHAV, the Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation. With the help of the Israeli Embassy we were able to donate 20 computers to the Tassah Academy, providing them with a new IT Lab. The Tassah Academy is a secondary school with 600 students in the country's capital Yaounde. The school was set up in 2009 by Janet Fofang, an electrical engineering teacher passionate about increasing the number of women in technology.

The IT Lab was officially opened on the 31st July, by senior delegates of the Israeli Finance & Foreign Affairs Ministries and the deputy British High Commissioner.

Niger is currently the lowest-ranked country in the world on the Human Development Index. Due to student, faculty and administrator strikes, it takes an average of five years for a university student to graduate with a three-year bachelor’s degree. To gain access to a quality higher education, the most talented students with the financial means to do so migrate to foreign countries and rarely return to Niger. 

We are delighted to have supplied African Development University (A.D.U.) with laptops for their students. The newly opened university was struggling to provide ICT access to the students as computer equipment is scarce in the country. IT Schools Africa supplied 37 laptops to the university earlier this year, after meeting the co-founder, Meredith Segal. 

​A.D.U. was founded by a team from the Harvard Kennedy School and currently offers undergraduate programs, an MBA program, and executive courses. The university plans to train a new generation of skilled, ethical leaders and aspires to become a hub of innovation and excellence in higher education in West Africa over the next decade. We look forward to continuing to support them over the coming years.

Through our Community IT Outreach Programme we support local projects by providing high quality, refurbished IT equipment and technical support.
Our vision is to improve access for disadvantaged people so they can use e-Learning technology effectively.
We hope for users to recognise the benefit of e-Learning technology, that they will become motivated and confident and share their enthusiasm with others.

​The GL11 Community Hub in Dursley, with help from IT Schools Africa, replaced all their ancient PC's with an up to date fully operational IT suite. This has saved the hub nearly £16,000 allowing valuable funds to be spent elsewhere. 

The computer suite is used for regular weekly classes including; beginners and improvers computer classes, job club, homework club and computer skills for individuals with learning disabilities. 

GL11 Community Hub commented “At least 100 people use the donated computers each week. Your donation was truly invaluable to us."
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Please contact jenny@itschoolsafrica.org for more information. 

We talked to our Programme Supervisor, Charlie in Zimbabwe about how he works to encourage teachers to integrate ICT into their day to day teaching, regardless of what subject is being taught.

Charlie visits schools to give them basic training in hardware, software and computer networking; during his visits he asks the teachers not to fear technology but to use it their advantage.

He introduces them to the basic concept of computer based tutorials and encourages them to set up their own 'IT lab support', showing them how they can support all of the school's ICT needs. He encourages teachers to experiment using the suite of educational materials provided by ITSA.

Another key area Charlie focuses on when training the teachers, is how to set up a local network with their computers. This can make a huge difference to schools that cannot afford expensive Internet costs, enabling them to share resources (cutting their operating costs), monitor students, centralise their IT administration and better communication.

The benefits are endless and as we support more and more schools they can start to develop and share their own tools for improving teaching methods and the management of day to day tasks. 

We have well established, strong links with many of the local special needs schools and colleges like National Star College, Ruskin Mill, Belmont School and Alderman Knight School in Gloucestershire. We provide work experience placements for young adults with disabilities such as Asperger’s syndrome, autism and those suffering from mental and physical health problems. Working closely with their teachers and carers, ITSA offers individuals the chance to develop their social skills and become part of a relaxed working environment.  

Over a period of four weeks Ben and Murray, two students from the National Star College, completed a work placement at IT Schools Africa. During this time they worked closely and were supported by staff from IT Schools Africa.

Murray, a very technical minded student spent some time re-building computers and loading Windows 10 ready for them to be shipped to Africa. Ben, a more practical minded student made sure that the hard drives were wiped before sending them on for refurbishment. Both students thoroughly enjoyed their placements:

“I really enjoyed it, I already knew quite a bit about computers but I learnt a lot from Monis. I wish it could have gone on for longer”.  
commented Murray
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As Ben is non verbal he rated his overall experience 10 out of 10. The tasks were set according to the student’s capabilities, skills and interests and were gauged very well. Students were kept busy for the entire placement and were challenged but not overwhelmed. 

"We would like to thank you for your support and hope very much that you also found the experience working with the college a positive one.  We hope very much that we can build on our relationship and work alongside you in the future".
Janet and Jonelle Job mentors
National Star College

​In partnership with the Naivasha Technical Training Institution (NTTI), we are able to facilitate learning through the provision of ICT for schools and businesses in the Rift Valley.

Access to ICT is helping to transform the lives of young individuals; including Joseph and Kelvin who are studying electrical engineering and banking/finance at college, but who were previously were living on the streets. Thanks to the NTTI both boys can now use their laptops for their studies.

We strive to continuously sustain our ambition of providing an inspired future for the younger generation of Africans, through the pathway of education. 

"In today’s digital economy, being able to use modern technology and navigate the Internet should be considered as important as English and Maths. But too many people struggle to get by." Karen Bradley MP

Digital exclusion is the inability to access online products or services or to use simple forms of digital technology. Lack of basic digital skills could include the ability to use a search engine to find information, complete online application forms, manage money or solve a problem using a digital service. This disproportionately affects vulnerable people, low-income groups, the elderly and the more marginalised communities in our society.

IT Schools Africa Community IT Outreach Programme is supporting local, grassroots community organisations and youth groups by donating good quality refurbished computers. We also help the local community with IT support, training and troubleshooting.

​At the Cornerstone Centre in Cheltenham many users asked for assistance with general IT skills, checking and sending emails, printing and using the internet. These users range from young to old. Many have additional needs, learning difficulties or suffer with mental health issues. In addition, children from the homework club benefit greatly from access to computers as they do not have access to computers at home.

GL11 Community Hub commented “At least 100 people use the donated computers each week, from young vulnerable children, people with mental health problems and disabled people. Your donation was truly invaluable to us."

We want to reduce digital exclusion in our community and develop the Community IT Outreach Programme.
Please contact  jenny@itschoolsafrica.org for an application form.