Johannesburg, 3 December 2024 – With today marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, iSchoolAfrica has been named one of the winners of the Zero Project Award 2025 for its transformative Disability and Inclusion Programme. Announced on this important day for Disability Awareness, the Zero Project recognised iSchoolAfrica among 77 innovative solutions from 45 countries out of 522 nominations across 90 nations.
The program’s recognition reflects its significant contributions to advancing inclusive education through Apple technology and built-in accessibility features, empowering learners with disabilities in South Africa. The program currently operates in 36 schools, addressing diverse needs such as autism, low vision, deafness, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia.
The award specifically recognises iSchoolAfrica’s Deaf Developers Programme, which has trained eight Deaf youth to become iOS app developers. The iSchoolAfrica team designed the Deaf Developers Programme to transform the narrative of disabled youth unemployment in South Africa. An innovation of this program also included the introduction of various coding terms into South African Sign Language. The program has been funded by a grant from the SAB Foundation, as well as supported and funded by Core Group.
“We are honoured to be recognised by the Zero Project for our Disability and Inclusion Programme. This award highlights the power of technology in transforming education for learners with disabilities. At iSchoolAfrica, we’re committed to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities that empower every learner to reach their full potential,” said Michelle Lissoos, Executive Director of iSchoolAfrica.
Awardees of the Zero Project will be showcased at the highly anticipated Zero Project Conference (#ZeroCon25) at the United Nations Office in Vienna from 5 to 7 March 2025, where they will present their innovative solutions and be featured in the annual Zero Project Report shared globally with disability inclusion experts. Michelle Lissoos has also been invited to speak at ZeroCon25.
Michael Fembek, Member of the Board of the Essl Foundation and CEO of the Zero Project, praised the awardees, saying, “Zero Project Awardees are leading the way in harnessing ICT and AI to remove barriers and create opportunities for persons with disabilities across the globe. Their work is not just about technological advancement; it is about building an inclusive future where technology works for everyone.”
iSchoolAfrica’s win underlines its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).
The Zero Project’s selection process is renowned for its thoroughness, involving over 300 hours of peer reviews and the collaboration of more than 350 global experts—with and without disabilities—who evaluate nominations based on innovation, impact, and scalability.
The Zero Project Award further amplifies iSchoolAfrica’s ability to scale its impactful work, with access to initiatives such as the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme, the Zero Project Technology Forum, and the Inclusive Arts Community.
