Building a better world for a brighter future

Global, Jan 29, 2021

As Architects of Change, we help our customers digitally transform by providing lifecycle solutions. Furthermore, at Logicalis we want to extend this transformation and its positive consequences to not only support our customers but also helping build a better world with a brighter future for our local communities.

We believe that education is the key to this and is therefore central to our new global CSR strategy. The ongoing pandemic has accentuated the need for fair, reliable access to education. During COVID-19 it has been those from disadvantaged backgrounds who have struggled the most when it comes to accessing education easily and fairly. According to global research by Unicef, three out of the four students who cannot be reached by remote learning policies, come from rural areas and/or belong to the poorest households.   

Access to education is the key

Through education we can empower people to take the next step in their lives, increase access to meaningful employment and build a better world. From this we hope to create a more inclusive future within a technology industry that benefits from more innovation and creativity through a diverse workforce. Not only does education help an individual but it will help to diversify the industry as a whole, bringing in people with new ideas and outlooks.

Supporting local initiatives to build a better world

Operating across 27 countries we are committed to improving the quality of life for the local communities that we operate in. Focusing on education initiatives, we look to empower, increase access to meaningful employment and inspire the next generation of Architects of Change. Activity is based around three key areas: improving diversity in the industry, supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and adults transitioning into new careers in tech. Initiatives are led by local offices so they can have a true grassroots effect in their local communities.

By assisting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, we hope to raise aspirations and provide educational support. With a particular focus on STEM, we hope to guide them on a pathway to a successful career in tech, and who knows maybe even inspire a future Architect of Change. In South Africa, we have invested heavily in supporting those in need with bursaries and learnerships. Across the last financial year alone, we supported 47 individuals with bursaries totalling in excess of £57,000 and 39 individuals with learnerships totally in excess of £68,000. 

When challenging inequalities and increasing diversity, we look to provide increased access to education for individuals who would have not previously been given opportunities. Not only does this benefit the individuals but also the industry as a whole. Logicalis sponsored the Technovation Summer School for Girls, a programming course promoted by the Group of Students in Exact Sciences (GRACE) of the Institute of Mathematical and Computer Sciences - University of São Paulo, Brazil. Approximately 160 girls, aged 10 to 18 years, participated in learning about programming applications for cell phones, presentation techniques, business plans and, as a group discussed solutions for real world issues.

Finally, we want to expand the workforce of today by supporting individuals who are looking to retrain in growing areas of the technology industry. The past year has sped up the decline of many industries and we are looking to identify and facilitate the retrain of adults in emerging and growth areas of technology. The winning solution from last year’s Logicalis’ Global Innovation challenge, looks to help migrants who are in search of work through a job and education platform, creating opportunities for qualified migrants and reducing personnel shortages. Team #ItsNotAPieceOfPaper who came up with the solution have received funding to develop their solution into a minimum viable product.

Looking to the future

Improving access to education is already part of what we do commercially. Whether it is helping a school use collaboration tools to enable IT support for remote learning, or upskilling employees at a healthcare provider helping them to use video conferencing to deliver care for patients. We are taking this a step further actively trying to make a difference in our local communities. As we move through 2021, we will continue to look for new ways to use education to build a better world and a brighter future for our customers, the industry and the world. 

 

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