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Salt highest rated in Business Sector in Namibia
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Based on the survey conducted by PMR in Namibia conducted during August, September and October 2011, Salt Essential IT came out tops in the following category: BUSINESS SECTOR: IT CONSULTING COMPANIES IN NAMIBIA. Salt is the highest rated on an overall rating of 4.17 out of a possible 5.00, and will receive the Diamond Arrow Award.
The ratings are based on the perceptions of the respondents (corporates and senior government officials in Namibia). A random national sample of 320 respondents comprising of CEO’s, MD’s, business owners, company directors and managers, senior national and local government officials based in Namibia. Companies and institutions were rated against the following criteria: companies/institutions that have done most to enhance economic growth and development of the country, levels of management expertise, implementation of corporate governance, brand awareness and levels of innovation.
The purpose of the awards is to celebrate excellence. Through the awards PMR want to acknowledge and set a bench mark for others to aspire to. Through the awards PMR.Africa is also creating an opportunity for companies and institutions whereby a team or division can be recognized for all their hard work. After all, there is a successful team behind each successful and highly rated company and institution. Based on the feature PMR.Africa will host an awards’ function in February 2012 in Namibia. The function will be attended by 280 to 320 corporate and government leaders. The award will be handed over at this event.
Salties are boasting with pride as this award comes just after Salt being invited by the Ministry of ICT to the Geneva convention, which is a significant honour for a Namibian company, as well as being recognised by Microsoft as the Cloud Partner of Choice in the region at this week’s Press Conference held at the Microsoft offices on Wednesday, 9 November 2011,” says Vanessa Maresch, Business Development Manager of Salt Essential IT.
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Microsoft celebrates 10 years in Namibia by pledging continued support of IT and innovation in the classroom
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Windhoek, Namibia, November 9, 2011 – Today Microsoft marked its 10 year anniversary in Namibia.
Over the last 10 years a lot has changed in the world of information technology and the Internet. However, what has remained unchanged is Microsoft’s commitmet to provide scalable technology to educators, students and schools across Africa and in Namibia. As an organization, the company believes in the power of technology to transform the education sector and bridge the digital divide in Africa. It is precisely for this reason that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed for the next 13 years with Namibia’s Ministry of Education to develop access to technology in school.
Speaking during a media breakfast organized at the Microsoft Namibia offices, Warren La Fleur , Senior Business Development Manager said, “In the 10 years that Microsoft has operated in Namibia, much of it has been done through our high skilled and qualified partner network. Together we have assisted, developed and provided information technology for our clients. Helping them make the right software and hardware decisions to grow their business in a sustainable and economically sound manner. This close contact with the customers through our channel partners has meant that we know and understand the needs of the customers, but also of Namibia, from a information technology perspective.”
Jürgen Weiss, Managing Director of Salt Essential IT also present at the media breakfast said; “Being a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner and implementing their world renowned IT-solutions has meant that we as a local ICT service provider have been able to maintain a competitive edge in Namibia and really add value to our customers.Through our partnership with Microsoft, we have built our competencies to a level where we can deliver the latest in the world of technology right here in Namibia.”
Information Technology is the backbone of modern society and through the implementation and innovative use of technology, Namibia will be able to gain and maintain an economic competitive edge. It is for this reason that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with the Ministry of Education to create a framework that will help to innovate Namibian education. This Memorandum will run until 2013, with Microsoft and the Ministry of education working together.
The MOU reinforces the investements already made by Microsoft Namibia through its Partners in Learning (PiL) programme that has seen more than 8000 teachers trained in basic ICT skills and 640 Educators certified as Master Trainers. These Master Trainers will now share their knowledge and train others.
“We strongly believe that for countries to bridge the digital divide in Africa and in Namibia, something tangible needs to be done. Private enterprises like Microsoft, local business partners and Governments can form alliances and really make a difference through Private Public Partnership programmes. We are very pleased to be partnering with the Ministry and truly believe in the impact that this will have on the Namibian teachers, students and schools in general.’ Says Warren La Fleur, Senior Business Development Manager, Microsoft East and Southern Africa.
Microsoft is using its 10th anniversary to underscore its dedication and pledge its commitment to continue investing in Namibia.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Editorial Contact
Sanjay Korteweg
Core Public relations Mangement
Windhoek
Tel: 061 304 172
Cell: 081 147 27 93
sanjay@core.com.na
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Salt / HP Golf Day a Huge Success
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Salt Essential IT and Hewlett Packard joined forces to host a Golf day on Tuesday, 25 October 2011, in Windhoek, Namibia at the Windhoek Country Club Resort and Golf Club.
From left to right: Christiane Fendler (Salt,) PJ Kotze (IO Consulting,) Gottfried Uaaka (NIP) and Ron Claasen (City of Windhoek.)
From left to right: Gideon Brink (Nedbank,) Laurent Evrard (Polytechnic of Namibia,) Morne du Plessis (Salt) and John Drotsky (Nedbank.)
From left to Right: Aldo Strappazzon (Axiz,) Michael Jaeger (Salt,) Sean Fallis (Desert Logistics) and Kobus Thornburn (Simonis Storm Securities.)
From left to right: Sean Kemp (Salt,) Geraldine Cloete (Salt,) Willie Prinsloo (Vox Orion) and Danie Malan (ITN.)
From left to right: Kai Kronsbein (Salt,) Even Ellitson (NIP) and David Haosemab (NIP.)
From left to right: Dennis Christiaans (NIP,) Louie van Wyk (City of Windhoek,) Dawid Maritz (Pupkewitz) and Marius van Vuuren (Salt.)
The Winning Team with their prizes and the Organiser. From left to right: Gottfried Uaaka (NIP,) and Ron Claasen (City of Windhoek,) Vanessa Maresch (Salt,) Christiane Fendler (Salt) and PJ Kotze (IO Consulting.)
Golfer of the Day was PJ Kotze. From left to right: Vanessa Maresch (Salt,) PJ Kotze (IO Consulting) and Brendan Tobin (HP.) HP co-funded the event.
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First conference of the insurance institute of Namibia
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 Windhoek, 26 September 2011 - The Insurance Industry in Namibia held its first one day conference in Windhoek on 26 September. The aim of the conference is to bring the industry together and to address pressing issues under the theme “Shaping our profession for the Future”. According to Ms Riana Gous, Director of The Insurance Institute of Namibia, this type of conference is a necessity in the Namibian context. “There are some very important aspects in our industry that need to be addressed in a forum that is highly collaborative,” she says. “When we developed the programme for this conference, topics that were crucial for us to communicate on included Consumer Protection and Education, the Financial Sector Charter, King III and related regulatory issues and addressing technical skills shortages in the insurance industry in Namibia,” she added. She went on to say, “issues that affect the industry globally are climate change and modern motor vehicle manufacture processes and how it affects the repair of such vehicles. We decided to include these on our programme because they affect Namibia and we need to expose our industry to trends in this area.” The conference was targeted at managing directors, CEOs and senior managers in the insurance industry.
 Presenters at the conference included the Hon Calle Schlettwein, Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr John Steytler, Economic Analyst from Capricorn Investment Holdings, Mr Tega Shiimi ya Shiimi, Chairperson of the Financial Sector Charter Council and Mr Gerrit Jordaan, Senior Manager: Tax and Advisory Services, PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Ms Claire MacFie, editor of Automotive Refinisher Magazine in South Africa, addressed the conference on modern motor manufacturing processes and how these new processes affect vehicle repair. Present during her address were prominent motor car dealers in Windhoek and representatives from the auto body repair industry in Namibia. This is a significant step in motor insurance. “The current trend in vehicle repair in the Namibian context is that high end luxury motor brands sold in this country are manufactured to ever decreasing European emission standards. The implications are vehicles that are much lighter in weight; achieved by using material compounds that require repair processes that are highly sophisticated and cutting edge. In the Namibian context, our automotive body industry needs to constantly invest in their businesses to stay abreast of these processes. In most cases in Namibia at the moment, cars are written off because of limited capacity to repair it to manufacturing standards locally and this affects the insurance industry negatively.” Gous explains. Laying specific emphasis on the conference theme, “Shaping our Profession for the Future,” the Insurance Institute works very closely with the Namibia Training Authority and has requested assistance with an Employment, Scarce & Critical Skills Survey in support of annual skills planning and training processes within the short term insurance industry. The survey will also contribute to the development of the Short Term Insurance Sector’s Unit Standards and Skills Plan to be registered on the Namibia Qualifications Framework.
The survey aims to:
- Obtain a detailed profile of the occupations that occur in the sector;
- Determine qualifications typically required of people employed in each occupational category;
- Identify the scarce and critical skills in the sector;
- Identify the gaps at educational service provider level that contributes to the scarcity of skills;
- Identify trends and possible future changes such as regulatory compliance in the demand for skills that may impact on the scarcity of skills;
- Gain an understanding of Employer’s view of existing qualifications and learning within the sector
- Determine the impact of The Insurance Institute of Namibia’s interventions on skills development in the sector; and,
- Assess the Employer’s view on the most pressing needs in terms of training.
Once finalised, the results of the survey will be benchmarked against:
- the report by Eben De Klerk on Occupational Mapping and Skills Shortages in the Business and Financial Sector;
- the survey on Employment, Scarce & Critical Skills in the Insurance Sector, commissioned by INSETA (Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority, SA)
- compared with the proposed Financial Services Industry Careers for National Occupations Pathway Framework prepared by the Insurance Institute of South Africa.
The Namibia Training Authority handed a cheque to the value of N$45,535 to The Insurance Institute of Namibia for the commissioning of the survey.
In fulfilling its mandate to the industry it serves, The Insurance Institute of Namibia holds regular technical training on specific subjects of insurance by experts in the industry and encourages and motivates employees to enrol for the Programme in Insurance through UNISA. Some of the objectives of The Insurance Institute of Namibia are:
- “the overall dissemination of professional insurance related knowledge and the inculcation of sound insurance practices in Namibia;
- To facilitate and assist in providing a framework of professional standards, ethics and professional conduct of the Members;
- to advice on academic standards, facilitate learning interventions, promote and assist the study of appropriate study material or assist in skills development relating to any branch of insurance in Namibia”
The Insurance Institute currently has 637 members made up of persons employed by registered insurance companies, insurance intermediaries, agents and claims adjusters in Namibia. Membership to The Insurance Institute is open to persons wholly or mainly engaged or employed in work connected with short term insurance initially and may in future expand to include long term insurance.
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Salt at the Telecom ICT Summit 2011
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The ICT Alliance recently hosted its most successful networking event to date in Windhoek.
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Simpology and Salt Essential IT, both Namibian IT Service Providers and leaders in the Industry, sponsored
the ICT Alliance Breakfast Informative Session held on Thursday, 14 July 2011 at Arebusch Conference Centre.
The turnout exceeded all expectations, with 75 members of the ICT Alliance joining the session. Attendees came from all over the ICT private and public sectors with representatives from education, government, industry, telecommunications, press and civil society joining the ICT alliance board for breakfast, discussions and networking. The parliamentary standing committee on ICT also joined the event as the newest members of the ICT Alliance of Namibia and the Honourable Dr. Moses Amwelo addressed the members on the importance of ICT in building the nation. He also conveyed the support of the standing committee for the efforts of the ICT Alliance. Mr van Graan, the chairman of the ICT Alliance in turn thanked the parliamentary standing committee for their efforts in looking after the wellbeing of ICT development at all levels. Special thanks was also conveyed to the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of ICT for their support of the ICT Alliance initiatives and for investing in ICT to build a better Namibia for all. The New Era newspaper received a special honorary membership to the ICT Alliance for their commitment to advocate the ICT and the use thereof to the nation through a series of ICT articles in 2011.
Four presenters introduced attendees to revolutionary ICT concepts while breakfast was enjoyed. Salt’s Chris Baisako spoke about the real benefits, risks and disadvantages of
Cloud Services in Namibia, while Simpology’s Rudolph Mocke enlightened the audience on the many real benefits of Microsoft’s Sharepoint within the Cloud. Internet governance and the importance thereof was discussed by Mrs. Ndeshipanda Ndilula who requested attendees to support and contribute to the local and regional IGF efforts. PricewaterhouseCoopers demonstrated their newest HR and salary scale software.
Another successful ICT Alliance networking event concluded with Mr. Lodewyk van Graan thanking the sponsors and all attendees for forming part of the broad spectrum representative body of public and private sector ICT in Namibia, the ICT Alliance.
Should you be interested in obtaining more information on any of the above mentioned topics or in joining the next networking event, please contact Marlene van Graan at the ICT Alliance – marlene@iit.com.na
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Local ICT Forum Growing Strong
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//Click is catching on as the Namibian ICT Community get their hands dirty to keep the industry clean.
People, in general, like to complain. We complain about how the Government spends taxes (and usually mention how we would do it better,) we complain about long queues in banks, about insurance excess. The list is endless. Everyone in the world, apart from perhaps the Buddhists, complain. It is part of the human condition.
Complaining is a good thing in the sense that the more we complain,or rather the more we complain effectively, the better the chances of changing the things that bother us. However complaining alone is not enough, should we be serious about the issues at heart. Whining and moaning usually falls onto deaf ears, like the wife moaning about the husband not doing chores.
Complaints or criticisms should be valid, properly formulated and directed to a legitimate forumwith the power to effect change. If you are one of the people that contributes to various forums and wonders why change never is effected, the answer is simple. ‘I tried to change the world, but I was outnumbered.’ Unknown Source.
//Click thrives to be the Namibian ICT Community’s platform to effect change. The contributorsto //Click consist of influential individuals and organisations, as well as a variety of stakeholders within the Namibian ICT Community. Published both online, www.click.com.na, and in printed copy, //Click showcases local expert opinion on current ICT trends, offers tried and tested strategies that has lead to local successes, as well as guidelines on how to approach opportunities in our market. It is a forum forindividuals and organisations invested in the longevity of the Namibian ICT Community, either as a provider or a consumer.It is a place to start building the army of voices needed to effect change.
//Click was launched in October 2010. Four editions of //Click will be published on an annual basis. The hard copy version of //Click is usually a twenty to twenty-four page glossy magazine and includes the best articles submitted to //Click online. Hardcopies of //Click’s are physically distributed to Ministries, the business community, parastatals and the general public in Namibia, as well as on local charter flights. //Click online is available to anyone with internet access.
The IT Community is urged to participate in //Click, because without contributions //Click will not have the wealth of information available to enable the IT Community to attack unfair practises, guide local IT companies or inform the general public of current issues and successes.
Committed contributors include international organisations such as Microsoft and Hewlett Packard, as well as local ICT Companies such as Schoemans, Telecom, Salt, Simpology, DB Space and many more. All individuals and company representatives are welcome to contribute by registering at www.click.com.na.
//Click is wholly funded by advertising income, so if you contribute an article, please consider advertising as well. //Click is a non profit endeavour and all advertising funds are spent on printing and publishing //Click. Should you be interested in supporting //Click by advertising please send an email to advertise@click.com.na. Submission of articles and comments to those articles remains free of charge.
Let your voice be heard and be a part of improving the Namibian ICT environment.
Vanessa Maresch
Business Development
SALT Essential Information Technology (PTY) Ltd
Service Rd. 161 Mandume Ndemufayo Ave.
PO Box 22772. Windhoek. Namibia.
Office: +264 61 273 900 (Reception)
Helpdesk: +264 61 273 911 (Helpdesk)
Fax: +264 61 273 909
Email: Vanessa.Maresch@salt.na
Website: www.salt.na
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SAGE X3 Launch
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 Salt Essential IT has always boasted with its world class service offerings, as well as their world class partnerships. One of those partnerships are with Afresh Consult, headed up by home-grown Immo Böhm, the Managing Director of Afresh Consult. Afresh has made its name by implementing ERP systems in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya, and has opened a dedicated division which focuses exclusively solutions. Afresh is investing in training and personnel to take it to market across the region.
Sage Software describes its ERP X3 as a compact and affordable software system for mid-sized companies, which supports all business processes across finance, distribution and manufacturing. Diamond Level is the vendor’s highest partnership distinction and is awarded as recognition of reseller participation in training and other partner programmes offered by the software company.
A new addition to the Afresh family is SAGE X3. At the recent launch of SAGE X3 hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek on Tuesday, 14 June 2011, Salt was the only IT Service Provider in Namibia invited to present on ERP in the Cloud. Salt’s Chris Baisako explained the concept and its many benefits to a captive audience.
For more information on SAGE X3 please contact:
Immo Böhm (MBA)
(Managing Director)
Tel: +264 61 231084
Fax: +264 61 309084
Cell: +264 81 1247515
Support Hotline: +27 12 346 5738
immo@afreshconsult.com
www.afreshconsult.com
For more information on ERP in the Cloud please contact:
Chris Baisako
Business Development
SALT Essential Information Technology (PTY) Ltd
Service Rd. 161 Mandume Ndemufayo Ave.
PO Box 22772. Windhoek. Namibia.
Office: +264 61 273 900 (Reception)
Helpdesk: +264 61 273 911 (Helpdesk)
Fax: +264 61 273 909
Email: salers@salt.na
Website: www.salt.na
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Khomas Regional Science Fair 2011
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Khomas Regional Maths, Science and Engineering Fair continues to grow form strength to strength
Namibia, 14 June 2011 – The Khomas Regional Science and Engineering Fair 2011 continues to draw exhilarating attention and most importantly from world leading companies such as SAP, De Beers Marine Namibia, Kolok Namibia & Kolok SA (Part of the Bidvest Group of Companies). Today, the Khomas Regional Science Fair Organising Committee is pleased to announce the official sponsors for the 2011 Fair at a special media briefing event held at the Khomas Regional Council, Kovambo Nujoma Hall, Pullman Rd. at 10h00. Some of the special dignitaries at this event include Ms. Seefeldt, Deputy Director of Education, Khomas Region, Mr. E. Thomas, Deputy Director MOE-DRST, Mrs. A. Philander, MOE-DRST, as well as Mr. S. Scholtz (Chairperson of the Khomas Reg. Science Fair 2011) and Mr. G. Munene (Educational Office of the Khomas Region – responsible for Maths & Science).
The 2011 Fair is set to take place from 30th June until the 1st July at the Polytechnic Exam Hall, Windhoek followed by the prize giving ceremony to be held at Jan Mohr Secondary School Hall.
“We are grateful for the support we received from our sponsors. Not only will it improve the relationship between the Min of Education and these esteemed companies, but this will boost the learners’ confidence knowing that their designs are recognised and acknowledged by leading companies such as SAP, De Beers Marine Namibia, Kolok Namibia & Kolok SA. All school learners in the Khomas region are encouraged to take part in this exciting and adventurous event. All that is required is the learners’ passion and interest to discover new possibilities” says Mr. Scholtz – Chairperson of the Khomas Regional Science and Engineering Organising Committee.
The Khomas Regional Science and Engineering Fair is aimed at developing young future scientists with interest, desire and inspiration for knowledge. The criteria are twofold and include judging of learners projects without the learners present and the final judging of projects with learners. These give the learners two phase opportunities to modify their designs and continue to impress the judges with their designs. The Fair will be open for public on the 1st July from 10h00 until 13h00.
This is the 23rd year since the Khomas Regional Science and Engineering Fair was introduced in the region. “We would like to continue supporting our learners so that they can be able to complete beyond national level. It has been exciting to see the growth and support of the fair for the past years - especially coming from the sponsors, judges and coordinators” concludes Mr. Scholtz.
For the Khomas learners the Fair is set to expose them to a wealth of maths, science and engineering knowledge which will position them better to compete with their peers international and assist them in their career establishment endeavour and choices.
Other sponsors:
Macmillan Publishers, Denu Distributors, Ricoh Namibia, Seelenbinder Consulting Engineers, Peralin Paints, Salt IT, Homeconomix, Officeconomix, Pennypinchers & Timbercity.
For media contact
Mr. Scholastie Scholtz or Mr. Munene
Department of Basic Education
Tel: +26481 129 1200
Cell: +26481 379 1848
Issued by
Monique Roets Malan
Project Coordinator
Tel: +26461 370 500/510
Cell: +26481 128 4448
E-mail: mroetsmalan06@gmail.com
Company, Representatives per company/Sponsor & amount sponsored:
1. De Beers Marine Namibia – Otto Shikongo (Man. Dir.), Liezl Davies ( Acting Snr. HR Manager), Christine Visser (Communications Manager) & Stella Auala – (Communication) - N$20,000
2. SAP Africa – Nteseng Maboe (Communication & PR Manager) & Mr. Riaan Malan (Country Manager – Namibia/Botswana/Lesotho/Swaziland) - N$20,000
3. Kolok Namibia & Kolok SA – Valne van Zyl (Acting Gen Manager Kolok Namibia) & Monique Roets-Malan (Man. Director Kolok Namibia) - N$20,000
4. Macmillan Publishers – Dennis Oorlam (Publishing Manager) - N$4,000
5. Denu Distributors – Jens Unterlerchner (Owner & Man. Dir.) - N$2,000
6. Ricoh Namibia – Alta Wylie (Financial Manager) - N$2,000
7. Seelenbinder Consulting Engineers – Riaan Steyn (Member – Mechanical Section) & Marlene Pretorius (Office Administrator) - N$1,500
8. Officeconomix & Homeconomix – Paul & Hazel Oosthuizen (Owners) - N$ 1,000
9. Pennypinchers & Timbercity – Karen Eloff (Marketing Man. & Co-owner) - N$1,000
10. Peralin Paints – Angelika San (Man. Dir.) - N$1,000
11. Salt IT – Vanessa Maresch (Business Development Manager) - N$1,000
In Total from all sponsors: N$73,500.00.
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Salt Enables Local Skills Development
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Aili Shigwedha, a student at the Polytechnic of Namibia,
expressed her sincere appreciation for the N$ 1,000.00 prize monies donated to her by Salt Essential IT at the recent annual Polytechnic Awards Ceremony held in Windhoek. Aili received the prize as the best B.Hons student: Computer Networking. Salt has been supporting the Systems Administration and Network Department, School of IT at the Polytechnic for some years now and will continue to support local skills development in Namibia, which is still a big problem in the Namibian IT Community. Skills shortage most direct effect is that skills have to be imported from neighbouring countries, at great cost to Namibian businesses, and to the detriment of eager, yet disadvantaged Namibian students.
“We hope that we will encourage Namibian students by recognising excellence, and in so doing Namibia will retain local skills and expertise, which will in turn contribute to our economy and enrich our local IT skills base,” says Christiane Fendler, Infrastructure Services Manager at Salt Essential IT.
‘Hereby I would like to extend my gratitude to your company for the gift that you presented to me during the Polytechnic 16th Award Ceremony on the 14 April 2011. I appreciate your contribution and trust that you will continue in the same spirit for others that will follow in the same path. My sincere gratitude, once again,’ was Shigweda’s message to Salt Essential IT.
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Salt Enables Online Counselling Training
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Salt Essential IT, a local IT Service Provider, last week provided free access to the internet and to their training facilities to LifeLine/ChildLine for an online counselling course.
April 11, 2011 (Windhoek, Namibia)
The technological revolution is a global phenomenon that has found its feet here in Namibia. More and more children communicate through email and online chat rooms and other internet services. Modern cell phones allow young people to access these online services with their cell phones or from a home PC or internet cafe. Online counselling has become indispensable for an all inclusive counselling provider such as LifeLine / ChildLine Namibia. Developing a website that can offer this service to children and young people has been a work in progress for LifeLine/ChildLine during the past year. In addition to the online counselling services, the website will also link children and young people to information and other services they can use to keep themselves healthy and safe. The flagship service is a dedicated Child HelpLine (number 116) which is free from all networks and enables children and the community to report and prevent child abuse. The website and online counselling will also link users to other discussion platforms, such as Uitani ChildLine Radio programmes and the Let’s Realise movement.
The objective of the online counselling course offered to LifeLine/ChildLine counsellors last week at the Salt training venue in Windhoek, was to increase capacity of the counsellors to be able to use this technology, thereby increasing emotional resilience in children and helping to protect them from abuse and neglect.
‘By providing Lifeline/ChildLine Namibia free internet access and the use of their fully equipped training facilities for the duration of the four day course, Salt is making a contribution to improving child protection in Namibia as well empowering Namibian youths to develop life skills and make well informed decisions about their own well being,’ said Nadia Belete, National Counselling Manager for LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia.
LifeLine / ChildLine Namibia believes that giving children an option to use this type of counselling service, will provide better and wider access to protection services for children in need. The 116 number and other services like online counselling fall under the Child Protection Programme that LL/CL is implementing together with partners PEACE Centre and the Legal Assistance Centre. The programme is being funded by USAID through Pact and UNICEF Namibia, with technical assistance from ChildHelpLine International. The project aims to show how civil society can support government to create a safety net for children and to ensure that child protection services and referrals are better coordinated. This project will allow improved accessibility, availability and affordability of services to children, via telecommunication and online services. It is also hoped that society at large will be more aware of the need for child protection.
“Salt is more than happy to support this worthy cause, as our core business involves the internet and the responsible use thereof. We promote and guarantee safe and secure internet access to businesses getting this service from us, and the next logical step would be to encourage this type of use from an early age by means of education,’ says Business Development Manager of Salt, Vanessa Maresch.
Contacts:
Connie Botma
Chief, Special Protection for Vulnerable Children
UNICEF Namibia
Tel. +264 - 61 - 2046252
Fax. +264 - 61 - 2046206
Cell +264 81 1284008
Nadia Belete
National Counselling Manager
Lifeline/Childline Namibia
P O Box 5477, Windhoek, Namibia
Office: +264 61- 224 339
Head Office: +264 61- 226 889
Cell phone: +264 81 477 8510
Vanessa Maresch
Business Development
SALT Essential Information Technology (PTY) Ltd
Service Rd. 161 Mandume Ndemufayo Ave.
PO Box 22772. Windhoek. Namibia.
Office: +264 61 273 900 (Reception)
Helpdesk: +264 61 273 911 (Helpdesk)
Fax: +264 61 273 909
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 VoIP Day 2008 premiered this year on Thursday, 6 November 2008, at the Windhoek Country Club Resort and Casino.
What was certain and demonstrated at VOIP Day, is the enormous cost savings Namibian companies can benefit from, ranging from 30% to 50% by switching from a traditional PABX system to a VOIP infrastructure.
At the event it became apparent that most people in Namibia do not understand the technology due to the fact that it is not being utilised at present. VoIP day was the perfect platform to explain exactly what VoIP is and how it works. VoIP is the facilities that deliver Voice information using the IP (Internet Protocol,) i.e. over the data network, not necessarily over the internet. VoIP simplifies PABX management as it is easier to install & use. No phone wiring is needed and by using VoIP you do not get locked into one vendor who can charge exorbitant service and hardware fees. VoIP also increases productivity of the workforce in a variety of ways and branches communicate with each other by using their existing data network, not telephone lines.
The software featured at the day was 3CX, which is low cost and feature rich, easy to install and easy to configure and use, even for non IT people. 3CX also supports virtual installations.
VoIP Day also featured some very cool gadgets, like soft phones, conference phones, headsets and much more.
The event was such a success that it will be repeated on an annual basis.
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