Building ICT Infrastructure with Ecolabs Africa

Founding Story

The founding story of Ecolabs Africa began in early 2017 with a simple yet powerful vision: to improve education outcomes by addressing the critical issue of inadequate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in under-resourced schools in township communities and rural areas. Established as an IT company offering solutions to schools in underserved communities, Ecolabs Africa emerged from a commitment to leveraging technology to empower learners and bridge the digital divide.

The inspiration for Ecolabs Africa, founded by Nhlanhla Mposula, stemmed from a close friend working in an IT shop within a local mall. Hearing about the frequent visits of school principals facing IT challenges sparked the founders' interest in addressing this pressing need. Taking a proactive approach, they directly engaged with local schools and offered their IT services as a solution. The enthusiastic response from schools validated their purpose and instilled confidence in their ability to address pressing needs, encouraging them to pursue their endeavour further.

Ecolabs Africa’s Sustainable Solution

Ecolabs Africa addresses the unequal access to digital technology and infrastructure by providing essential technology resources, such as computer labs, to schools in underserved communities. The “eco” in Ecolabs reflects an unwavering commitment to sustainability by using obsolete, redundant, or unserviceable computer equipment to build computer labs in schools and libraries. This eco-friendly approach helps reduce e-waste while providing access to essential technology.

As the team at Ecolabs Africa deepened its understanding of the educational landscape, particularly within township communities, the need for personalised solutions to address the specific challenges these schools face became clear. This realisation led to the developing of a model that provided relevant and accessible funding opportunities for labs within educational institutions.

The organisation also partners with institutions of higher learning to provide students with laptops. Refurbished laptops, sponsored by private and public partners, are distributed to these students to ensure they have the tools necessary to actively participate in digital learning.

Ecolabs Africa is further committed to creating opportunities for youth in emerging technologies, such as robotics and artificial intelligence. An integrated programme within the aforementioned Ecolabs was established to support youth in mastering Maths, Science, and emerging technologies, preparing them for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). By building e-Robotics labs, ICT Centres, Science and Biology labs, and Smart Classrooms, the organisation empowers young learners with the skills needed to succeed in this new era of technological innovation.

Looking Towards the Future

With a calling to create a sustainable solution for education stakeholders and make a meaningful impact, Ecolabs Africa envisions becoming a leader in e-waste collections and building a robust ICT infrastructure. Through their dedication to upskilling youth, Ecolabs Africa is improving the education landscape; one refurbished computer lab at a time.

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Ecolabs Africa is part of the 2024 Injini Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program.