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Samsung Electronics Africa today announced that it will strengthen its Corporate Citizenship efforts in Africa in a bid to help the continent achieve its Sustainable Development Goals.

The electronics manufacturing giant said it hopes to achieve this by creating new learning opportunities so that young people can enjoy access to better education; by using its technical expertise to develop and provide access to new healthcare solutions; by supporting youth employment through vocational training and skills development; and by reducing its impact on the environment.

Speaking at the 2016 Samsung Africa Forum, Abey Tau, Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs Manager, said, “As a global citizen, we felt it was important to use our technology to give back to society.”

According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than 50 percent of all out-of-school children worldwide, which affects their future employment opportunities. The dire situation faced by many African countries is a result of a number of factors, including civil unrest, cultural beliefs and a lack of schooling infrastructure and resources.

In a statement on Thursday, Samsung said it is introducing technology to make sure that every African child has access to education no matter where they are on the continent, and can use state-of-the-art digital technology enjoyed by other children in developed countries.

Samsung said its Solar Powered Internet Schools, Smart Schools and E-Learning Academies provide solutions to improve the quality of learning, enhance teaching effectiveness and allow administrators to run institutions more effectively. Earlier this month, Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, attended the launch of a Smart School in Ogun State.

Through its education initiatives, Samsung hopes to instill a love of learning in students so that they can have equal access to opportunities and go on to become active participants in the economy.

In terms of skills development, Samsung’s Engineering Academy and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Academy aims to provide free, intensive, hands-on training to graduates. The Academies seek to develop skilled young African leaders who are adequately prepared for the world of employment. The programme forms a core part of Samsung’s vision to fast-track the entry of African youths into the electronics job market and to reduce the shortage of scarce skills in the IT industry. Zimbabwe will be a recipient of one of these academies this year, the company said.

Samsung also aims to improve access to quality healthcare on the continent. Samsung Electronics Africa has put initiatives in place through public-private partnerships to alleviate the lack of access to medical care in rural areas.

At the Samsung’s Solar Powered Health Centre, introduced in 2013, patients can be screened at the centre to diagnose conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and cataracts. They can also access information on health issues.

Samsung’s Mobile Health Centre uses technology to remotely connect to specialist doctors anywhere in the world to get expert opinion and diagnoses. This year, Samsung will be establishing a Mobile Health Centre in Togo.

Other healthcare services provided by the company are Samsung’s Digital Village, a hub where community members can access educational and health solutions. In 2016, Samsung will be launching Digital Villages in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

“These multi-purpose offerings provide a sustainable solution to challenges faced by African people, while improving their standards of living. The model addresses one of Africa’s largest economic challenges – electrification. The scarcity of electricity results in limited access to education, healthcare and connectivity – all of which are key to socio-economic development,” Tau said.

“At Samsung, we have a vested interest in the communities we operate in and, as a result, we have come up with solutions that directly address the everyday challenges most people encounter. Over the years, our collaborative efforts – guided by our strategic focus in the areas of education, health, the environment, and skills and employability – have seen us collaborate with different communities, NGOs and governments,” Tau added.