REACT in Action: Broadband for Refugees in Uganda

On January 8, Avanti Communications commenced delivery of free broadband connectivity to Social Innovation Academy (SINA). The partnership between the two organizations were initiated through GBC-Education’s Rapid Education Action (REACT) initiative in September, 2018.  

Avanti Communications is a UK based satellite operator, delivering broadband access to a wide-range of actors across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Through its Project Heart program, Avanti is working to support areas including “business ideas, education, entrepreneurship, life skills, livelihoods, and well-being.” Avanti is providing access to opportunities, improving connectivity, and enabling individuals – impacted by geographical displacement, social, and economic circumstances – to turn their ideas into reality.

“Access to the internet is a critical enabler to transform communities and help grow economies across Africa,” Graham Peters of Avanti Communications said. “We’re delighted to be working with SINA to help empower the next generation of innovative social entrepreneurs”.

The Social Innovation Academy (SINA) is a Uganda-based non-profit organization that educates former orphans, street children, refugees, and other disadvantaged youth in Uganda to become job creators and social entrepreneurs with the ability to turn challenges into solutions. The stable high-speed internet provided by Avanti will enable SINA to deliver its innovative program to help scholars transform their own personal tragedies into a social enterprise, disrupting root causes of social problems.

“A stable and fast internet connection is a requirement for self-learning and the creation of opportunities for our SINA Community in the Bidi Bidi refugee camp,” Etienne Salborn of SINA said. “Without electricity, in the camp, we are extremely grateful to have a solar satellite internet solution in place from Avanti”.

In December 2018, SINA was recognized by UNHCR for its work to empower refugee youth. The UNHCR NGO Innovation Award celebrates the efforts and achievements of a particular organization that advance the delivery of services to refugee populations throughout the world. To learn more about the award, follow the link here.

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Avanti Communications is seeking further opportunities to deliver connectivity at reduced or no-cost to partners working in the forefront of education in emergencies and crisis situations. Please contact Jake Cho at [email protected] for more information.

GBC-Education’s REACT initiative is a hub to channel corporate contributions in support of education in emergencies by building results-oriented partnerships between businesses, UN agencies, NGOs, national governments, and actors. To learn more, follow the link here.

Be on the lookout for more updates throughout the year on REACT in action.