At Cisco, we care deeply about innovation and sensible effectiveness. When responding to social challenges, we need to be a part of options that work—and that always means drawing nimbly, as one Cisco, from our complete organizational toolset, no matter division or area throughout the firm.
By listening to our nonprofit collaborators after which deciding on from our suite of confirmed interventions as we assemble a custom-made assist package deal, we are able to empower our social influence companions to assist extra individuals, extra effectively, in a extra sustainable approach. We search for measurable outcomes, and we like to see our grantees utilizing know-how to alter extra lives for the higher.
Uplifting communities by digital skilling
The Chorkor Digital Lab, a mission run by Cisco social influence companion BASICS Worldwide, exemplifies our integrative and results-oriented strategy. BASICS gives schooling, meals, and healthcare for kids locally of Chorkor and surrounding areas in Ghana, West Africa—serving to complete communities rise out of poverty. Their new lab is getting ready previously underserved college students for dynamic careers in cybersecurity, networking, and extra. Supported by Cisco Networking Academy in addition to our Expertise Grant Program, the lab provides a hub for studying, collaboration, and creativity, the place college students study cutting-edge expertise that can assist them flourish within the digital economic system.
Learn the way college students in Ghana put together for thrilling tech careers on the Chorkor Digital Lab.
BASICS Worldwide CEO and founder Patricia Wilkins notes that Chorkor’s status as arduous to assist was precisely what impressed her to dive in and start unlocking the potential of the neighborhood. “We at all times felt we would have liked to offer kids entry to know-how,” she stated. “After we realized about Cisco’s program, the place they meet college students the place they’re, and provides them the technical expertise and pc expertise that they want, we obtained on board.”
Sharing Cisco’s trusted curriculum and know-how
Wilkins additionally manages the BASICS Cisco Academy, guaranteeing that college students get full entry to Cisco’s trusted curriculum as they work in the direction of the certifications that can unlock higher jobs and futures upon commencement. Cisco Networking Academy is a world, IT skills-to-jobs program, providing digital expertise coaching to organize college students for industry-standard certifications and careers in networking, cybersecurity, and associated fields.
“For over twenty years, BASICS Worldwide has believed in supporting the entire youngster—combining schooling, diet, mentorship, and life expertise to assist younger individuals thrive and lead change of their communities.” —Patricia Wilkins, CEO and founder, BASICS Worldwide


Cisco’s Expertise Grant Program gives our personal know-how to qualifying nonprofit organizations to assist them notice vital beneficial properties in productiveness, safety, scalability, and value effectivity. For the Chorkor Lab, a Expertise Grant was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Networking Academy.
Patrick Verret, who managed the know-how grant, explains, “We helped them set up a safe and secure community for college kids to entry Cisco Networking Academy, make the most of different on-line studying supplies, and collaborate with others throughout the web. Because of our Meraki firewalls, switches, and entry factors, college students can connect with the community all through the constructing, by way of each wired and wi-fi connections.”
Dreaming of—and dealing in the direction of—careers in tech
Already, the Lab is altering lives. “I wished to do pc science, however I couldn’t get an opportunity to do it, as a result of the charges that you must pay are very excessive. It has been my dream for therefore lengthy,” stated pupil Joyce Banahene, who’s aiming to search out work as a community engineer when she completes her certification.
Additionally feeling impressed, pupil Pleasure Adevu famous, “I’ll be working in any tech firm. Most likely Cisco, Apple, Samsung—any of them!”
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