Nice View Children’s Home gains connectivity with EverIT and HPE Networking Instant On

[Shannon_Byrne]

In 2016, the UN declared that access to the Internet is a human right. Around the world, more and more children are online—whether at home or school—but depending on factors like location, race, and family income, not everyone has this chance, leading to a great digital divide.

The digital divide

The digital divide is the gap between people with and without access to technology. This includes access to the Internet, digital literacy, and the skills needed to participate in a digital world. 2.3 billion people globally under the age of 25 still do not have access to the Internet and are at risk of being left behind, unable to access education and training or news and information that could help protect their health, safety, and rights.

That’s why earlier this year Silke and Simon Scheve of EverIT traveled to Nice View Children's Home and its affiliate school, Nice View Gratitude Academy, in the town of Msambweni in Southern Kenya. An orphanage that offers a safe space, balanced meals, medical care, and education, Nice View Children's Home helps raise Kenyan children to become independent citizens and gives them hope for a better future. Inspired by the impressive efforts of the home and the touching stories of the children, the Scheves wanted to support and contribute to the valuable work that the Nice View Trust Foundation is doing.

Connecting the unconnected

With the support of EverIT and HPE Networking Instant On, the Scheves were able to support the children’s home and school in their important mission by installing a much-needed Wi-Fi network. This technical infrastructure, consisting of an HPE Networking Instant On Switch Series 1830 and HPE Networking Instant On Access Points AP11, AP12, and AP17, has significantly improved the children's and staff's communication and learning opportunities. Wi-Fi is now also available in the children’s communal areas, allowing them to use tablets for homework, as well as enjoy streaming services so they can socialize and relax with their friends. Additionally, two surveillance cameras have been integrated to enhance site security.

Thanks to this improved connectivity, the home now offers the children better access to educational resources and digital learning content, narrowing the digital gap for these young people.

Future plans

The couple’s support for the Nice View Children's Home is far from over. Nice View is a large complex with various technology and Wi-Fi needs that have yet to be fulfilled, and the Scheves’ plan to expand the network and install additional HPE Networking Instant On Access Points to improve internet connectivity further. For example, the current infrastructure does not allow for connected CCTV, which would greatly enhance on-site security. Additionally, they are planning to establish a similar network at a nearby clinic to provide better educational resources for youth in training.

Lending a helping hand

The HPE Networking Instant On team will continue to work in conjunction with EverIT to help deploy resources and technology to address the social challenges that the youth at Nice View Children's Home experience. We believe that, together, we can be a force for good and that technology has the potential to enable greater efficiencies, mitigate social inequities, and drive better solutions to the world’s most complex challenges. By partnering with EverIT to lend a helping hand to Nice View in Kenya, we can give back to young people in need who need help now more than ever.