Device donations to bridge the digital divide
Device donations to bridge the digital divide
Written by Zakia Sheba
In today’s interconnected world, access to technology has become a necessity rather than a luxury. Unfortunately, many communities still lack the resources to bridge the digital divide. However, there’s a heartwarming solution that’s making a real impact: device donations.
Device donations, where organisations provide laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other tech gadgets to those in need, have emerged as a powerful tool for levelling the playing field in education, employment, and social inclusion.
Since June 2021 ELBA has given out over 1,200 laptops and devices to community organisations, who in turn have helped those in the greatest need. The devices have been made available through the generosity of many of our partners, notably including Societe Generale, Barclays, Clyde & Co, and the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
The community organisations who have benefited include local organisations working with the homeless, refugees and asylum seekers, young people, food banks, elders and displaced families and local playgroups. Some of the organisations we have supported are Parity, Society Links and Oliver Thomas Nursery School and Children’s Centre.
We have received heartwarming and positive feedback from the organisations the devices were shared with. Beautine Wester, Founder of Hackney Children and Baby Bank, sent us the following feedback:
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“We want to thank ELBA for the amazing contribution of laptops. It has been great to see them make a difference in the study life of young mums fleeing domestic violence. We have had two mums who have studied health and social care and got into nursing. Another has qualified as a teaching assistant. Finally, three young Afghan students have achieved good grades and are now in college studying electronics, computer cyber security and bio science.”
Device donations are a testament to the power of community and compassion. By sharing our technological resources, we can help create a more inclusive and equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the digital age.
We are ready to take in more surplus devices, please get in touch with us on the following email: community@elba-1.org.uk.
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