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Commsworld Help Keep Volunteers Stay Connected

Posted: 15th September 2017

Six intrepid volunteers are set to tackle demanding trips to Africa equipped with smartphones provided by an independent Edinburgh tech company.

Scottish network service provider, Commsworld are helping the volunteers to share their amazing experiences abroad with state of the art phones that have the capability to use local 4G networks in any country.

The young adults, who have travelled to Africa thanks to funding from the profits of Ginerosity, the world’s first social enterprise gin, will use the handsets to produce weekly video diaries and build up a portfolio of pictures.

Ricky Nicol, CEO at Commsworld, said: “Commsworld is really excited to be supporting Ginerosity with this project, and glad we can do our bit to keep the candidates well connected while abroad.

“As a growing company Commsworld is always keen to develop young talent and see those individuals flourish in the workplace.

“The Ginerosity project will bring a whole new set of skills and experiences to its lucky candidates. I’ll be following their careers with great interest!”

With help from Ginerosity’s funding, the volunteers have made trips Ghana, Zambia, Uganda and Rwanda with charity Challenges Worldwide.

Having devices that can utilise local network providers is vital for the volunteers to pick up local SIM cards and join the right network before they use them.

Eoghan Mackie, CEO of Challenges Worldwide, said: “Thank you Commsworld for providing smartphones to our business support associate volunteers in Africa.

“We champion technology as a core element to enable us to deliver faster, cheaper and easier results for hi potential and high impact small to medium enterprises.

“Better internet access will make it easier to leverage our cloud knowledge platform and remote experts, meaning the businesses get more value from us at point of delivery.”

Aimed at growing local economies and providing vocational training, the 10-week programme enables the young people to develop key business skills and undertake the coursework for an industry recognised qualification, while also enabling the businesses to access social investment.

Marcus Pickering, one of the co-founders of Ginerosity, said: “The support from Commsworld has been very generous, and has been a great boost to this six young adults who have received Ginerosity funding, raised through the sale of our social enterprise gin. It’s another great example of individuals and businesses making a positive difference.”

Commsworld is an Edinburgh headquartered firm, with offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen and more than 70 staff.

Founded in 1994, it supports thousands of the country’s leading organisations, in both the Public and Private Sectors, with their business-critical Internet, Data and Voice Communications.

Ginerosity invests profits from the sale of its gin into projects that will help and support under-privileged or disadvantaged young people. It was founded in 2016 by Pickering’s Gin directors Marcus Pickering and Matt Gammell, Dave Mullen of Story UK, David Moore of Flavourly, and Chris Thewlis of Beer for Good CIC.

Founded in 1999, Challenges Worldwide is an Edinburgh-based developmental organisation that has experience of working with businesses in over 40 countries across the globe.

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Business Comment is the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s bi-monthly magazine. It provides insight on Edinburgh’s vibrant business community, with features on the city’s key sectors, interviews with leading figures and news on new business developments in the capital.
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