Vodacom gives free access to education and job search sites

In a bid to help address cost challenges associated with access to education and career websites, Vodacom, through the Vodacom Foundation and its NXT LVL youth brand, has zero rated the charge to some key basic education sites and career portals.

The interventions are an illustration of Vodacom’s core belief that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and mobile technology can be utilised to improve and advance learning, address skills development and help in finding employment. The Vodacom e-School portal, launched in January 2015, and the NXT LVL Careers, are prime examples of how Vodacom is contributing to society.

The Vodacom e-School provides curriculum-aligned content for Grade 4 to 12 learners including daily lessons, videos, assignments in the form of quizzes and personalised progress reports. This is zero-rated, in other words free, for Vodacom customers. Already there are 150 000 learners registered on the portal. The portal can be accessed by visiting www.vodacom.co.za/e-school from your cellphone, tablet or laptop.

Executive Head for Vodacom Foundation, Mthobeli Temfene says: “Many learners in our country often do not have access to learning material such as textbooks, which makes excelling at school more difficult. The same applies to young graduates looking for employment as more and more job placements go online and the costs of data is a barrier.” Tengimfene says: “As an investor in the country and an established partner in addressing social challenges, Vodacom’s goal is to ensure that learners throughout the country have access to some basic tools to help enhance their learning experience and that young graduates similarly get help in searching for jobs.”

As a caring company with a 17 year history of giving back to communities, Vodacom is committed to easing the cost conundrum that young job seekers face. We launched Vodacom NXT LVL Careers in June 2016. The programme is aimed at young job-seekers and enables them to browse for jobs, upload CVs and apply for available positions for free. Access to the careers portal is zero-rated for Vodacom subscribers. NXT LVL Careers can be accessed through the www.vodacom.co.za website then clicking on Services and then on NXT LVL Careers.

Vodacom takes every opportunity with its network to deliver social offerings through its zero-rated offers to customers. We have an open invitation to providers of content aimed at advancing employability in South Africa, and invite interested parties to e-mail us at foundation@vodacom.co.za to apply to have applicable content added to our zero-rated portal.

Kenya's wildebeest migration to be live streamed to the world

WildEarth in partnership with HerdTracker will be live streaming the wildebeest migration via Facebook and YouTube in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve from 20 to 25 September 2016. 

The live broadcasts will be hosted daily on HerdTracker’s Facebook page and WildEarth’s safariLIVE YouTube channel between 16:00 to 23:30 EAT (East Africa Time) and will centre around the wildebeest migration crossing the Nile crocodile-infested Mara River as well as predatory action of lions hunting at night in the Masai Mara.

WildEarth will also be broadcasting live from South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa, an excellent Big Five safari destination which shares a border with the Kruger National Park.

Authentic African safari experience

Graham Wallington, CEO of WildEarth hopes to show viewers who tune in to the live broadcasts an authentic African safari experience.

“One of the scenes that is brought to mind when people think of Africa, are the vast expanses of open land and myriads of different herbivorous species streaming across these great plains as they follow the torrential rains, always seeking out the best grazing areas. Of course, this is an absolute feast for the predators who really get their claws stuck in after sunset.”

“After the sun has gone down, we are going to be using infrared lighting and thermal imaging for the very first time during our live safaris, so don’t miss out on a second of the action.”

Encouraging international travellers to visit Kenya

Andre Van Kets, creator of the HerdTracker web-app which tracks the wildebeest migration in real-time and removes the fear that travellers have when planning a migration safari, hopes that by broadcasting the wildebeest migration live, it will encourage more international travellers to make Kenya their chosen holiday destination and to experience this natural phenomenon for themselves.

“The wildebeest migration is one of nature’s greatest spectacles. The river crossings are the main reasons why thousands of travellers flock to the Masai Mara every year. We want to show the world just why they need to witness it for themselves here in Kenya.”

Other live broadcasts of the wildebeest migration

In October 2015, HerdTracker in partnership with Make It Kenya hosted #MaraLive - the world’s first live web broadcast of the great wildebeest migration from the Masai Mara, Kenya via Twitter’s Periscope app.

Motorsports' Mad Mike Heads To South Africa

Drifting star Mad Mike Whiddett will head to South Africa in September.

Mad Mike - Image: Graeme Murray / Red Bull Content Pool

Off the back of appearances in Formula Drift in Canada and the US, Kiwi Drifting

Sensation , ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddett makes his way to South Africa to thrill local fans.

‘Mad’ Mike’ Whiddett has drifted a car up a mountain range in his native New Zealand and powerslid across a frozen lake in Japan and now he’s set to excite South Africa’s drifting enthusiasts, as he heads to our shores in September.

“I’ve heard so much about the South African fans and I can’t wait to get out there. I've seen the local SA drift scene in clips and it looks like a whole lot of fun,” said Whiddett from Japan where he was participating in Formula Drift. “I’m pumped to showcase what the Mazda RX8 is capable of and meet the fans first hand.”

Whiddett’s car, a 2004 MAZDA RX8 dubbed the ‘BADBUL,’ is being shipped directly from his appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

“The BADBUL is our threerotor turbo machine, equipped with the best products on the market. It has just finished wowing the crowds in the UK for Goodwood Festival of Speed where we took home the coveted 'Driver of the Event' award,” Whiddett said. ”High horsepower, killer sound I know it will be well received in South Africa. “

The ‘Mad Mike’ moniker hails from early on in his motorsport career – something he was called whilst participating in a freestyle motocross event. Although he hated being called ‘Mad Mike’ in the beginning and thought it was pretty cheesy, it stuck. He thinks it’s rather cool now.

Whiddett will be in South Africa to appear at two events – Wheels of Fury on the 17th of September at Grand West in Cape Town and then the SupaDrift Series at Carnival City on the 24^th of September.

He’ll also be filming an episode of his reality series ‘My Mad Mike Life’ while in the country.

It’s a maiden trip to Africa for Whiddett. “I’m stoked to head over to get amongst the local drivers and drive scene,” he said. “For me this trip is an exploration of both South Africa and its culture as much as it’s a motorsports trip.”

For more info head to: www.redbull.co.za/madmike