Rural School Receives Computers to Bridge Digital Divide

The Sorris Sorris Conservancy’s Abraham Gariseb Primary School has been given seven desktop computers, worth around N$100,000, to improve digital skills and education in rural areas.

The donation was made by ultimate.earth (formerly Ultimate Safaris) in collaboration with its philanthropic arm, the Conservation Travel Foundation (CTF). It marks the launch of the Conservation Travel Foundation Computer Re-Life Programme, a joint initiative to address the digital divide in rural areas.

The program seeks to provide rural learners with access to computers, improve tech literacy, and offer educational resources commonly available in urban centers. This donation follows similar initiatives in Khorixas and the Grootberg area near Kamanjab, demonstrating the foundation’s commitment to supporting communities near conservation areas.

Ultimate.earth and CTF have also supported private-school scholarships for children from conservancies and funded renovations for ablution facilities, classrooms, and teacher accommodation in rural schools. Their approach emphasizes creating sustainable economic opportunities and contributing to community development alongside wildlife and nature preservation.

Conservation-based tourism provides an alternative economic model in areas with limited conventional development options. It generates employment, income, skills, infrastructure, and investment while offering a direct incentive to protect natural areas.

Tristan Cowley, Managing Director of ultimate.earth, stated, “If conservation is going to be sustainable, it has to contribute to the future of the people who live in these environments.” He believes investing in education is a meaningful way to achieve this, as these children may become future custodians, entrepreneurs, guides, conservationists, and tourism professionals in Namibia.

The CTF Computer Re-Life Programme encourages corporates and organizations to donate computers no longer suitable for their operations but still useful for rural schools. By partnering with companies, CTF will refurbish, license, and deploy these computers to schools in need, extending the equipment’s life and reducing electronic waste.

Cowley noted, “There are companies across Namibia replacing computers that are no longer suitable for their own operation, but those machines can still be incredibly valuable to a rural school.” The program aims to bridge this gap, providing a responsible way for corporates to contribute to education and reduce waste.

This initiative addresses the digital divide while building a sense of community and environmental stewardship. By investing in education, ultimate.earth and CTF are helping create a sustainable future for both the people and the natural areas of Namibia.