SSouthA AfricanRA RadioO Astronomy Observatory

SARAO’S INVESTMENT IMPACT IN THE

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), through its Square Kilometre Array (SKA SA) project has invested heavily in the Northern , from upgrading knowledge centres to creating jobs and providing deserving students with much-needed academic funding. With its partners, SARAO has contributed towards social and technological development in areas such as Carnarvon, Vosburg, Williston, Van Wyksvlei and .

The contributions have been made around five focus areas:

investing in the youth

supporting community upliftment programmes

developing small to medium enterprises (SMEs)

nurturing learners’ talent;

and ensuring that communication connectivity is not compromised.

The focused investment in social development in the region of the SKA SA site will ensure that neighbouring communities can fully benefit from the far-reaching astronomy project, through better education and training, investment in small businesses, and increased job opportunities. Total amount spent in the Northern Cape through the construction of MeerKAT and KAT-7

*These numbers are up to and including August 2020.

R156 LOCAL Amount spent at local service providers and contractors for the million construction of MeerKAT and related projects

R222 Amount spent on salaries paid in the million

R2.5 Amount spent on training for people in the Northern Cape million R13,890 Amount spent on materials from local suppliers for the equipment for million the construction of the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionisation Array (HERA)

1251 Bursaries awarded through SARAO since inception

8 800 The number of job opportunities created through the construction of KAT-7, MeerKAT and other related projects

22 The number of schools where structured SARAO Human Capital Development Programmes are facilitated. This includes Carnarvon High School, Carnarvon Primary School, Williston High School, Nico Bekker Primary School, Loxton Primary School, Vosburg Primary School, Brandvlei Primary School, Brandvlei High School and High School where more than 5400 learners are involved

130 000 Declared a nature reserve, preserved for future generations ha

At least Farmers and farm workers to whom fixed line broadband data service 250 connectivity was supplied via satellite (V-SAT) since December 2015

R3.7 Amount spent on local catering, tourism and accommodation in the million Northern Cape

R4.4 Amount spent on local transport in the Northern Cape million 1 Technical training centre established in Carnarvon

Number of local women directly employed by SARAO between 2015 107 and 2017

1267 Number of local women directly employed by SARAO subcontractors between 2015 and 2017

2 Libraries with internet connections supplied through SARAO

3 Cyber laboratories established in the Northern Cape with the aim of providing training to members of the communities. A fourth cyber laboratory is currently being established

125 The number of local business owners from Carnarvon, Williston and Brandvlei who received training from the SARAO supply chain management department

R4.7 The amount spent on community development initiatives million

20 The number of SARAO sponsored students from local communities currently studying at universities

799 Number of Northern Cape adults who have already received training through SARAO

90 % Local staff in the Karoo is from local communities

Alternative communications provided to emergency services

Teaching support provided in both Carnarvon Secondary and Primary Schools

Reading programme underway at Carnarvon Primary School

Grants are currently being issued to schools surrounding the SKA operational area

Robotics competitions and training are held at the schools and these kids have won international awards in Uruguay CONTACT US:

SARAO, 2 Fir Street, Black River Park, Observatory (North Gate entrance), Cape Town, 7925, South Africa

[email protected] Tel: +27 (0)21 506 7300 www.sarao.ac.za

SSouthA AfricanRA RadioO Astronomy Observatory