Satellite operator Intelsat has partnered with actor Forest Whitaker’s non-profit organisation, Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), to deliver for the first time high-speed internet connectivity to WPDI’s Community Learning Centres in South Sudan and Uganda.


Intelsat says it will equip ten centres – seven in South Sudan and three in Uganda – with satellite connectivity. Over the course of this three-year partnership, Intelsat adds that it will provide equipment, managed connectivity services, installation and ongoing technical support. This effort, says the company, will bring reliable internet access to communities where traditional connectivity infrastructure is inadequate for modern online education.

The satellite-powered connectivity will enable WPDI to significantly expand its educational offerings, providing access to digital resources, online courses and virtual exchange programmes that were previously impossible in these remote locations. Students will gain critical digital literacy skills alongside WPDI’s established curriculum in conflict resolution, entrepreneurship and community development.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, a mere 19% of people in least developed nations like South Sudan and Uganda use the internet. In areas directly affected by conflict, these numbers drop even further, creating significant barriers to education and opportunity for vulnerable populations. 

By improving digital access, Intelsat and WPDI says they are providing learning centre trainees with the resources they need to become drivers of positive change in their community and beyond. They add that graduates of WPDI programmes have gone on to become community leaders, educators and advocates.

The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) is a non-governmental organisation with an international scope and reach, committed to fostering peace and resilience by disseminating skills and promoting climate-sensitive and sustainable development in countries and places affected by violence, poverty, environmental disruption, and marginalisation. 

MORE ARTICLES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN…