ITU Telecom World was a unique opportunity to learn best practice in the telecommunications space, improve on our product offering and open up Purple Signs to new world markets. We used the ITU Telecom World networking app to identify potential partners even before arriving at the event, enabling us to meet ministers and SME founders from multiple countries whose vision and drive continue to inspire our work. Taking part in the SME Programme – and winning an award – has helped put Purple Signs on the world map of companies driving ICT solutions with high social impact. We have since met with multiple Zimbabwean government ministries, as well as UNICEF Zimbabwe representatives, and the Zimbabwe Medical Association. The ITU Telecom World experience has had a massive positive impact on the quality of our solutions, our business model, marketing and franchising plans. ITU also helped shape our understanding of the need for national policies to drive development of sustainable, inclusive technological solutions.
Our product has been recognized for its work promoting Africa and African culture in national sign languages; we have expanded into the legal services sector; and we are helping create a new national standard for customer services offered in Zimbabwean Sign Language which will have a direct impact on customer service delivery across society and industry for generations to come. Purple Signs is set to impact the lives of at least 300 000 deaf women, youth, children and adults and at allow least 10 000 front office service providers to communicate with the deaf without prior expensive training in sign languages of multiple African countries.