I have two questions for you this morning so you could decide to shut them
morning so you could decide to shut them
morning so you could decide to shut them down
down
down the responses down in the little
the responses down in the little
the responses down in the little booklets you were given or respond to
booklets you were given or respond to
booklets you were given or respond to them at the top of your head so the
them at the top of your head so the
them at the top of your head so the first question is how often do you
first question is how often do you
first question is how often do you connect to the internet and the second
connect to the internet and the second
connect to the internet and the second question is what would you do without it
question is what would you do without it
question is what would you do without it because a study done by Deloitte says of
because a study done by Deloitte says of
because a study done by Deloitte says of the world’s seven billion population
the world’s seven billion population
the world’s seven billion population only 2.7 have access to the Internet
only 2.7 have access to the Internet
only 2.7 have access to the Internet while a clear majority of 4.3 remain
while a clear majority of 4.3 remain
while a clear majority of 4.3 remain unconnected live in developing countries
unconnected live in developing countries
unconnected live in developing countries I’m here to tell you that many of those
I’m here to tell you that many of those
I’m here to tell you that many of those unconnected I here in South Africa I’d
unconnected I here in South Africa I’d
unconnected I here in South Africa I’d like to share my story which highlights
like to share my story which highlights
like to share my story which highlights my relationship with the Internet and
my relationship with the Internet and
my relationship with the Internet and particularly why I think universal
particularly why I think universal
particularly why I think universal internet access is a right of every
internet access is a right of every
internet access is a right of every South African see I’m the eldest of five
South African see I’m the eldest of five
South African see I’m the eldest of five and I grew up with immense pressure to
and I grew up with immense pressure to
and I grew up with immense pressure to make something of my life so my younger
make something of my life so my younger
make something of my life so my younger siblings would have someone to emulate
siblings would have someone to emulate
siblings would have someone to emulate closely so after I completed my
closely so after I completed my
closely so after I completed my undergrad and honours degree I got an
undergrad and honours degree I got an
undergrad and honours degree I got an opportunity of a lifetime to go and
opportunity of a lifetime to go and
opportunity of a lifetime to go and pursue my master’s degree in France
pursue my master’s degree in France
pursue my master’s degree in France pretty cool huh at 20 20 year old from a
pretty cool huh at 20 20 year old from a
pretty cool huh at 20 20 year old from a Township gets awarded a scholarship
Township gets awarded a scholarship
Township gets awarded a scholarship great PR story but my excitement was
great PR story but my excitement was
great PR story but my excitement was short-lived because people who makan I
short-lived because people who makan I
short-lived because people who makan I consider very close to me urge me not to
consider very close to me urge me not to
consider very close to me urge me not to go because I would fail because the
go because I would fail because the
go because I would fail because the standard was too high and because I did
standard was too high and because I did
standard was too high and because I did not speak French obviously so I turned
not speak French obviously so I turned
not speak French obviously so I turned to my mentor my grandmother the woman
to my mentor my grandmother the woman
to my mentor my grandmother the woman who gave me her life savings for me to
who gave me her life savings for me to
who gave me her life savings for me to enroll for my first th University and my
enroll for my first th University and my
enroll for my first th University and my grandmother urged me to go so now the
grandmother urged me to go so now the
grandmother urged me to go so now the catch that came with my scholarship
catch that came with my scholarship
catch that came with my scholarship award was that I would have to apply for
award was that I would have to apply for
award was that I would have to apply for University on France on my own an entire
University on France on my own an entire
University on France on my own an entire University but I did not know anyone in
University but I did not know anyone in
University but I did not know anyone in France I’d never left the country how do
France I’d never left the country how do
France I’d never left the country how do I do this so I turned into one thing
I do this so I turned into one thing
I do this so I turned into one thing half of us
half of us
half of us this room cannot go with that and that
this room cannot go with that and that
this room cannot go with that and that is the Internet
is the Internet
is the Internet I googled all prestigious universities
I googled all prestigious universities
I googled all prestigious universities in France and I struggled I struggled
in France and I struggled I struggled
in France and I struggled I struggled because how would I know my email
because how would I know my email
because how would I know my email application was received would I get
application was received would I get
application was received would I get admitted
admitted
admitted what if they expected me to come and
what if they expected me to come and
what if they expected me to come and bring in supporting documentation in
bring in supporting documentation in
bring in supporting documentation in person you see these are all questions a
person you see these are all questions a
person you see these are all questions a young person from a disadvantaged
young person from a disadvantaged
young person from a disadvantaged background struggles with but needless
background struggles with but needless
background struggles with but needless to say I eventually got accepted by the
to say I eventually got accepted by the
to say I eventually got accepted by the University in the South of France for
University in the South of France for
University in the South of France for master’s bilingual program and shortly
master’s bilingual program and shortly
master’s bilingual program and shortly before my dear future my dear
before my dear future my dear
before my dear future my dear grandmother was worried about how we
grandmother was worried about how we
grandmother was worried about how we were going to keep in contact for the
were going to keep in contact for the
were going to keep in contact for the next 18 months so I had a friend of mine
next 18 months so I had a friend of mine
next 18 months so I had a friend of mine download skype and once I landed I sent
download skype and once I landed I sent
download skype and once I landed I sent him an inbox on Facebook and had him
him an inbox on Facebook and had him
him an inbox on Facebook and had him quickly rushed to my house so my
quickly rushed to my house so my
quickly rushed to my house so my grandmother could Skype with me you see
grandmother could Skype with me you see
grandmother could Skype with me you see this moment right here introduce the
this moment right here introduce the
this moment right here introduce the Internet to my grandmother
Internet to my grandmother
Internet to my grandmother it introduced the Internet to my family
it introduced the Internet to my family
it introduced the Internet to my family and my closest friends today my
and my closest friends today my
and my closest friends today my grandmother’s not a digital native yet
grandmother’s not a digital native yet
grandmother’s not a digital native yet I’m working on it but she’s very much
I’m working on it but she’s very much
I’m working on it but she’s very much digitally informed my grandmother
digitally informed my grandmother
digitally informed my grandmother believes Google has the answers to
believes Google has the answers to
believes Google has the answers to everything we call her cocoa Google just
everything we call her cocoa Google just
everything we call her cocoa Google just the other day she rushed to my rewrites
the other day she rushed to my rewrites
the other day she rushed to my rewrites and she says I need to create a Twitter
and she says I need to create a Twitter
and she says I need to create a Twitter account for her you see my grandmother I
account for her you see my grandmother I
account for her you see my grandmother I understands that when you tweets you get
understands that when you tweets you get
understands that when you tweets you get your opinion out there and you keep up
your opinion out there and you keep up
your opinion out there and you keep up with character face and maybe you treat
with character face and maybe you treat
with character face and maybe you treat my kid like or even retweeted and maybe
my kid like or even retweeted and maybe
my kid like or even retweeted and maybe you can trend but back to my story the
you can trend but back to my story the
you can trend but back to my story the internet was to be a very important tool
internet was to be a very important tool
internet was to be a very important tool for me to communicate with friends
for me to communicate with friends
for me to communicate with friends family but also to pray for my classes
family but also to pray for my classes
family but also to pray for my classes it was also an important tool for me to
it was also an important tool for me to
it was also an important tool for me to conduct interviews for my master’s
conduct interviews for my master’s
conduct interviews for my master’s thesis that I would let it later defend
thesis that I would let it later defend
thesis that I would let it later defend but may I highlight that I was out of my
but may I highlight that I was out of my
but may I highlight that I was out of my comfort zone not only did I find myself
comfort zone not only did I find myself
comfort zone not only did I find myself in a foreign country but also it was
in a foreign country but also it was
in a foreign country but also it was expected that I would compete with my
expected that I would compete with my
expected that I would compete with my European counterparts with this resource
European counterparts with this resource
European counterparts with this resource that I barely grew up with and compete
that I barely grew up with and compete
that I barely grew up with and compete very well needless to say I graduated
very well needless to say I graduated
very well needless to say I graduated with
with
with master’s degree in honors and got an A
master’s degree in honors and got an A
master’s degree in honors and got an A in French that’s me over there the
in French that’s me over there the
in French that’s me over there the reason I’m telling you my story is that
reason I’m telling you my story is that
reason I’m telling you my story is that I want us for a moment to imagine what
I want us for a moment to imagine what
I want us for a moment to imagine what internet access is like for a 12 year
internet access is like for a 12 year
internet access is like for a 12 year old boy living in a tree fell who lives
old boy living in a tree fell who lives
old boy living in a tree fell who lives in a shack sleeps on the floor but both
in a shack sleeps on the floor but both
in a shack sleeps on the floor but both of his parents are unemployed and
of his parents are unemployed and
of his parents are unemployed and survive on his and his siblings social
survive on his and his siblings social
survive on his and his siblings social grant in 2013 Ellen not Craig jr.
grant in 2013 Ellen not Craig jr.
grant in 2013 Ellen not Craig jr. pondered protect disease REM and I laid
pondered protect disease REM and I laid
pondered protect disease REM and I laid to join the organization earlier this
to join the organization earlier this
to join the organization earlier this year as their youngest CEO I’m 26
project is Cesar is a nonprofit
project is Cesar is a nonprofit organization that facilitates as well as
organization that facilitates as well as
organization that facilitates as well as advocate for free internet access within
advocate for free internet access within
advocate for free internet access within a walking distance in low-income
a walking distance in low-income
a walking distance in low-income communities a tragic disease where we
communities a tragic disease where we
communities a tragic disease where we believe internet Exodus should be a
believe internet Exodus should be a
believe internet Exodus should be a basic good and human rights
basic good and human rights
basic good and human rights I came to water and electricity thus far
I came to water and electricity thus far
I came to water and electricity thus far predict disease where has roll out at
predict disease where has roll out at
predict disease where has roll out at thousand and seven to six hot spots
thousand and seven to six hot spots
thousand and seven to six hot spots country ride our flagship project is in
country ride our flagship project is in
country ride our flagship project is in the city of 20 which started in 2013 and
the city of 20 which started in 2013 and
the city of 20 which started in 2013 and we’ve connected over 300,000 unique
we’ve connected over 300,000 unique
we’ve connected over 300,000 unique users per day that come into our network
users per day that come into our network
users per day that come into our network and have over a million unique users on
and have over a million unique users on
and have over a million unique users on a quarterly basis we give away 500 makes
a quarterly basis we give away 500 makes
a quarterly basis we give away 500 makes pretty pretty great data per device a
pretty pretty great data per device a
pretty pretty great data per device a project disease or our argument is basic
project disease or our argument is basic
project disease or our argument is basic we believe internet access should be a
we believe internet access should be a
we believe internet access should be a basic right that is 100% subsidized by
basic right that is 100% subsidized by
basic right that is 100% subsidized by the state
the state
the state pretty brave huh here’s why because the
pretty brave huh here’s why because the
pretty brave huh here’s why because the Bill of Rights our cornerstone of our
Bill of Rights our cornerstone of our
Bill of Rights our cornerstone of our democracy right states that the Bill of
democracy right states that the Bill of
democracy right states that the Bill of Rights should protect respect and
Rights should protect respect and
Rights should protect respect and promote the rights of every South
promote the rights of every South
promote the rights of every South African so to Section 27b of the Bill of
African so to Section 27b of the Bill of
African so to Section 27b of the Bill of Rights say we have a right to water and
Rights say we have a right to water and
Rights say we have a right to water and food right it also say that we have a
food right it also say that we have a
food right it also say that we have a right to Social Security should we be
right to Social Security should we be
right to Social Security should we be unable to take care of ourselves
unable to take care of ourselves
unable to take care of ourselves furthermore the Bill of Rights states
furthermore the Bill of Rights states
furthermore the Bill of Rights states that should the the state has the
that should the the state has the
that should the the state has the responsibility to take legislative and
responsibility to take legislative and
responsibility to take legislative and other measures to make sure that these
other measures to make sure that these
other measures to make sure that these rights are realized
rights are realized
rights are realized correct equally so section 16 of the
correct equally so section 16 of the
correct equally so section 16 of the Bill of Rights say we have the right to
Bill of Rights say we have the right to
Bill of Rights say we have the right to freedom of expression and this freedom
freedom of expression and this freedom
freedom of expression and this freedom expression includes the free
expression includes the free
expression includes the free to receive impart and share ideas
to receive impart and share ideas
to receive impart and share ideas freedom of artistic creativity freedom
freedom of artistic creativity freedom
freedom of artistic creativity freedom of academic freedom and scientific
of academic freedom and scientific
of academic freedom and scientific research steady internet access should
research steady internet access should
research steady internet access should be a basic right right but I want you to
be a basic right right but I want you to
be a basic right right but I want you to think of these hotspots that project
think of these hotspots that project
think of these hotspots that project DC’s redeploys and different
DC’s redeploys and different
DC’s redeploys and different municipalities as communal taps we’re
municipalities as communal taps we’re
municipalities as communal taps we’re not saying these hotspots should be your
not saying these hotspots should be your
not saying these hotspots should be your basic rights we’re saying the tool that
basic rights we’re saying the tool that
basic rights we’re saying the tool that allows you to access information should
allows you to access information should
allows you to access information should be your basic service and therefore this
be your basic service and therefore this
be your basic service and therefore this is the way the municipality gets to help
is the way the municipality gets to help
is the way the municipality gets to help you realize your Bill of Rights people
you realize your Bill of Rights people
you realize your Bill of Rights people in low-income communities need internet
in low-income communities need internet
in low-income communities need internet access because every look every
access because every look every
access because every look every corporate now has moved to the
corporate now has moved to the
corporate now has moved to the application and every municipality has
application and every municipality has
application and every municipality has moved to e-governance and even stars as
moved to e-governance and even stars as
moved to e-governance and even stars as nudging people to move towards efiling
nudging people to move towards efiling
nudging people to move towards efiling at project this is way we conduct month
at project this is way we conduct month
at project this is way we conduct month quarterly reports on our impact surveys
quarterly reports on our impact surveys
quarterly reports on our impact surveys we do this to get empirical evidence of
we do this to get empirical evidence of
we do this to get empirical evidence of what internet access can do and
what internet access can do and
what internet access can do and low-income communities and also to
low-income communities and also to
low-income communities and also to support our argument why should be
support our argument why should be
support our argument why should be municipal subsidized so this is a graph
municipal subsidized so this is a graph
municipal subsidized so this is a graph that we did so it shows here of 24
that we did so it shows here of 24
that we did so it shows here of 24 percent of people’s have claimed that
percent of people’s have claimed that
percent of people’s have claimed that they’ve saved money by using our Wi-Fi
they’ve saved money by using our Wi-Fi
they’ve saved money by using our Wi-Fi networks and less than 23 percent used
networks and less than 23 percent used
networks and less than 23 percent used it for education and schooling and eight
it for education and schooling and eight
it for education and schooling and eight percent use it for email we still yet to
percent use it for email we still yet to
percent use it for email we still yet to get people digitally native like my
get people digitally native like my
get people digitally native like my grandmother doesn’t if this does not get
grandmother doesn’t if this does not get
grandmother doesn’t if this does not get you thinking I study done by the World
you thinking I study done by the World
you thinking I study done by the World Bank says for every ten percent of
Bank says for every ten percent of
Bank says for every ten percent of broadband penetration there’s a 1.3
broadband penetration there’s a 1.3
broadband penetration there’s a 1.3 percent growth and a country’s GDP like
percent growth and a country’s GDP like
percent growth and a country’s GDP like South Africa so if we think of 1 percent
South Africa so if we think of 1 percent
South Africa so if we think of 1 percent of GDP equals to 7,000 jobs the 7 the
of GDP equals to 7,000 jobs the 7 the
of GDP equals to 7,000 jobs the 7 the 700,000 jobs waiting to be created you
700,000 jobs waiting to be created you
700,000 jobs waiting to be created you see the return on these investments are
see the return on these investments are
see the return on these investments are beneficial to the state
beneficial to the state
beneficial to the state which goes back to my argument it has to
which goes back to my argument it has to
which goes back to my argument it has to be subsidized by the state because
be subsidized by the state because
be subsidized by the state because people in low income communities cannot
people in low income communities cannot
people in low income communities cannot affect afford data and the cost of data
affect afford data and the cost of data
affect afford data and the cost of data is a barrier for them to access jobs to
is a barrier for them to access jobs to
is a barrier for them to access jobs to connect to the world and efficiently
connect to the world and efficiently
connect to the world and efficiently contribute to our national GDP what can
contribute to our national GDP what can
contribute to our national GDP what can you do here today personally I urged you
you do here today personally I urged you
you do here today personally I urged you to get involved and the discussion about
to get involved and the discussion about
to get involved and the discussion about why the digital divide and the country
why the digital divide and the country
why the digital divide and the country is so entrenched find out how other
is so entrenched find out how other
is so entrenched find out how other organizations like project DC’s way and
organizations like project DC’s way and
organizations like project DC’s way and others are working to bridge the divide
others are working to bridge the divide
others are working to bridge the divide perhaps you can give your domestic
perhaps you can give your domestic
perhaps you can give your domestic worker you share you your Wi-Fi password
worker you share you your Wi-Fi password
worker you share you your Wi-Fi password with your domestic worker whatever term
with your domestic worker whatever term
with your domestic worker whatever term you’re comfortable calling her do nearby
you’re comfortable calling her do nearby
you’re comfortable calling her do nearby schools in your area struggle to connect
schools in your area struggle to connect
schools in your area struggle to connect to internet or digital teaching skills
to internet or digital teaching skills
to internet or digital teaching skills perhaps you can help them carry a dongle
perhaps you can help them carry a dongle
perhaps you can help them carry a dongle in your pocket on your bag and help your
in your pocket on your bag and help your
in your pocket on your bag and help your neighbor who’s trying to apply to their
neighbor who’s trying to apply to their
neighbor who’s trying to apply to their first year of university C it’s
first year of university C it’s
first year of university C it’s challenging but we can all do something
challenging but we can all do something
challenging but we can all do something individually remember that little boy in
individually remember that little boy in
individually remember that little boy in a tree drill who lives in a shack
a tree drill who lives in a shack
a tree drill who lives in a shack imagine now that he’s got internet
imagine now that he’s got internet
imagine now that he’s got internet access through our Wi-Fi Protected sees
access through our Wi-Fi Protected sees
access through our Wi-Fi Protected sees way he not only grows up to be a digital
way he not only grows up to be a digital
way he not only grows up to be a digital native but he has access to some of the
native but he has access to some of the
native but he has access to some of the brightest minds and the digital platform
brightest minds and the digital platform
brightest minds and the digital platform he not only grows up to be an amazing
he not only grows up to be an amazing
he not only grows up to be an amazing academic and professional but also an
academic and professional but also an
academic and professional but also an amazing person and a world that is fast
amazing person and a world that is fast
amazing person and a world that is fast becoming digital what are we doing in
becoming digital what are we doing in
becoming digital what are we doing in the long term
the long term
the long term well project disease was working very
well project disease was working very
well project disease was working very hard with other organizations we need to
hard with other organizations we need to
hard with other organizations we need to come to bring calm to the table and work
come to bring calm to the table and work
come to bring calm to the table and work with organizations such as
with organizations such as
with organizations such as akasa D TPS and new Sassa on what the
akasa D TPS and new Sassa on what the
akasa D TPS and new Sassa on what the way forward should be I think the
way forward should be I think the
way forward should be I think the government should focus its energy on
government should focus its energy on
government should focus its energy on implementing efficient policies that
implementing efficient policies that
implementing efficient policies that will roll out internet access not only
will roll out internet access not only
will roll out internet access not only in low-income communities but in rural
in low-income communities but in rural
in low-income communities but in rural areas as well so that conversation
areas as well so that conversation
areas as well so that conversation shouldn’t be about bringing the cost of
shouldn’t be about bringing the cost of
shouldn’t be about bringing the cost of data down the conversation should be on
data down the conversation should be on
data down the conversation should be on the sustainability and the scalability
the sustainability and the scalability
the sustainability and the scalability of these Wi-Fi projects so this has been
of these Wi-Fi projects so this has been
of these Wi-Fi projects so this has been my story on bridging the digital divide
my story on bridging the digital divide
my story on bridging the digital divide one internship at a time and being the
one internship at a time and being the
one internship at a time and being the voice for the voiceless
voice for the voiceless
voice for the voiceless [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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