Fujifilm South Africa and SHOUT SA marked LiASA’s Digital Literacy Day with the launch of a one-year pilot at Carter Primary School in Alexandra, donating a high-speed multifunction printer along with ink and paper supplied by Papercor, valued at over R150,000. The donation forms part of a broader pilot project to reimagine local libraries as living, breathing community tech hubs and centres of connection, education and heritage preservation. If successful, the pilot could set the stage for expansion across SHOUT SA’s national network.
Reimagining Libraries as Digital Community Hubs
“Libraries remain one of the last truly free and inclusive public spaces,” says Grant Potgieter, General Manager at Fujifilm Graphic Communication South Africa. “Yet across the world, they remain underfunded and often overlooked. At Fujifilm South Africa, we see technology as a tool for inclusion. It's something that should strengthen, not sideline, the human experience. This project brings that principle to life, where a printer is more than a piece of office equipment. It can be a lifeline for students and community members.”
The library installation at Carter Primary School includes a Fujifilm Apeos C4570 Multifunction Printer, chosen for its speed, cloud connectivity, and suitability for public use. It enables everything from printing study guides and scanning IDs to emailing documents straight from the machine.
"For Fujifilm,’ continues Potgieter, ‘every innovation begins with a single belief that moments and connections deserve to be preserved. In libraries, that belief finds new meaning. Every person who learns to use a new tool adds to the collective ambition of a community determined to grow, connect, and create opportunity. That's what this pilot means to us.’
Partnerships That Empower Learners
Speaking about the partnership, Gavin Koppel, Co-Founder of SHOUT SA, says he’s seen firsthand what a difference access makes. “I want to thank the Fujifilm South Africa team for believing in the future of our children. Their unparalleled kindness and generosity will allow teachers and learners to rise and develop to the highest standard of excellence. Their contribution of the Fujifilm Apeos C4570 Multifunction Printer is a direct investment in the human potential of our children and is a timely initiative. We need more of this. Arigatōgozaimasu. Kansha shite orimasu.”
Beyond access, the pilot also aims to understand how learners use this kind of technology at the local level. This includes how often they print, scan, or email, and for what purposes. These insights will help shape future community tech initiatives so they better reflect people’s needs and deliver meaningful impact.
“It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s a practical intervention,” concludes Potgieter. “By bringing infrastructure directly into a public learning environment, we can shine a light on how local collaboration creates opportunity and preserves culture at the same time. Especially where it’s so urgently needed right now.”
