One year after its launch, Tigo E-Library on Wheels has benefited over 20, 000 children in deprived communities across the country.

Not only does the mobile digital van serve the needs of children, Information Communications Technology (ICT) teachers in communities have also been using it to give practical lessons to their pupils.

Through the outreach programmes in schools and communities such as Damang, Duayeden, Onoka, Kwesitenten, Adjeikrom, Ahwerase, Kwasi Nyarko and Obeng Yaw, Sapeiman, Medie and Pokuase, children who had never seen or touched an e-reader were exposed to digital devices.

The E-library initiative which is a partnership between Ghana’s digital lifestyle brand, Tigo Ghana and Street Library Ghana was initiated to assist children in rural Ghana to acquire reading and basic ICT skills.

It was also to help bridge the digital divide existing between pupils in rural communities and their counterparts in urban centres.

The initiative which is the first of its kind in Ghana was borne out of Tigo’s Digital Change-makers programme that seeks to unearth social entrepreneurs whose creative ideas, skills and talents can positively affect society.

With the initial plan of traveling across rural Ghana with hard-copy books in his mini-van to encourage children to read, the 2012 winner of the Digital Change-Makers competition, Hayford Siaw’s innovative idea was further improved upon by Tigo in line with the company’s quest to pursue a digital lifestyle for Ghanaians and enhance rural education.

As such, all the books were digitized in order to enable the children have a hands-on digital experience with electronic devices such as computers. The mobile van also has additional tables, chairs and laptops which could be set outside to cater for more children.

Commenting on the milestone, the Director of Corporate Affairs at Tigo, Ms. Gifty Bingley expressed satisfaction with the successes chalked so far.

“We are extremely proud that many children in deprived communities have had an exposure to digitized books and technological devices – this is truly gratifying.”

She explained that education is one of the focus areas of the company’s Corporate Investment activities, adding that, “through technology our Change-makers are spearheading remarkable initiatives and creating amazing applications to make education fun and beneficial to all especially children.”

She continued: “The world is moving at a fast pace and being the country’s number one digital lifestyle brand, we are making sure that no child is left out.”

Hayford Siaw, who is also the Founder of Street Library Ghana, said: “I am proud that we’ve able to provide some children hands-on practical ICT classes, especially for those who wrote the recent BECE examination.”

He thanked Tigo for the support and reiterated his organisation’s commitment to find innovative ways to enhance education.