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How one woman’s dream connected the Mitchells Plain community to a world of opportunity

Saunders, who works directly for Vuma as a fibre reseller, didn't realise that starting her business in 2020 would provide an income stream for her and her 32-member staff, connecting the community to a new world of digital opportunities.

As a leading South African fibre provider, we at Vuma realise that uncapped fibre internet can empower individuals with the ability to connect communities to new opportunities and help current and future generations realise their dreams of a better future.

That’s why we’re incredibly proud to share the story of Megan Saunders and everything she’s achieved, including creating an income for herself and countless other households in her Mitchells Plain community through her Saunders Technical Services (STS) fibre to home business.

Her vision now is to help more people realise that despite the stigma surrounding low-income neighbourhoods, internet connectivity offers opportunities for people who wish to make a name for themselves.

For example, like Megan Saunders, Jimmy Nevis, now a singer, songwriter, and Vuma My Community Connects ambassador, grew up in Athlone, less than 20 kilometres from Mitchells Plain. Despite the challenges he faced in his community, he, too, managed to chase his dream of becoming a musician, even going on to open for international stars like Tevin Campbell and Pharrell Williams.

“I can relate to Megan’s journey of overcoming the odds without forgetting to embrace where you’re from. Although we grow up in challenging environments, we must continue to have pride in our roots and embrace the communities we come from,” says Nevis. “Megan and I might come from two very different worlds, but we have so much in common, and because of that, I’m confident that we can inspire even more people in similar situations to never give up on their dreams.”

Driven by her passion for entrepreneurship, Saunders left her full-time job to launch her new business with just one month’s salary, which she used to cover expenses like petrol and basic office equipment.

“Thankfully, generosity came through from my family and my former employer, who helped me cover some of my first month's expenses. Certain members of the community were also instrumental in non-financial assistance and support. People sometimes told me not to make this move because the sacrifice was too great. However, the rewards are equally as great; for example, we’re moving into our new offices this year, and we also have more vehicles, so the sacrifices are paying off,” says Saunders.

Uncapped fibre rollout in Mitchells Plain by Vuma has helped improve residents' quality of life and increased property values – discouraging people from moving out of the community to go to areas that offer better opportunities for their children.

Saunders says the most significant benefit of affordable, high-speed fibre internet is that people with disabilities and the elderly no longer need to rely on public transport to do their shopping; they can shop online and even connect with loved ones remotely.

“I’m proud of how fibre connectivity has made it possible for Mitchells Plain community members, who previously relied on dial-up and mobile data, to access opportunities such as online shopping, gaming, and to discover new online careers," says Saunders. "Even more importantly, children in the community who don’t have internet access at home can now connect to the internet at school to do homework, which helps them improve their education and access better opportunities after school.”

Click here to learn more about the benefits of uncapped fibre to the home, or check your home’s fibre coverage and find and sign up for an uncapped Vuma fibre to home internet deal that best suits your family’s needs.

How one woman’s dream connected the Mitchells Plain community to a world of opportunity