A chat with our partner in Italy: ACRA
In this interview, we speak with Dolma Bornengo, responsible for partnerships and fundraising Manager at ACRA, an organization committed to improving education for children from vulnerable social groups in Italy. Dolma shares her experiences and insights on how together, we have made significant strides in ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital age, especially during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How did ACRA address the challenges posed by the pandemic, particularly for children without access to devices?
Dolma: In 2020, as the world grappled with the pandemic, ACRA faced a daunting question: how to ensure that children without access to devices could continue their education. During this critical period, we found an ideal partner in the ST Foundation. Our collaboration started with distributing PCs and tablets to schools, ensuring that no child was left behind due to a lack of resources.
Dolma Borlengo (left) and Claudia Angelini, ST Foundation Italy Country Manager
Can you elaborate on the partnership?
Dolma: As the partnership evolved, ACRA and the ST Foundation embarked on an ambitious project to combat digital educational poverty. Together, we introduced coding courses in primary and secondary schools across Lombardy and Sicily. These courses were not just about teaching coding, but also about empowering students and teachers to develop computational thinking – the ability to see the complexity of the world, break it down into simpler problems, and find common solutions. The ST Foundation, through its supporter STMicroelectronics, provided small programmable robots, making learning interactive and fun.
What has been the impact of this collaboration?
Dolma: The impact has been profound. Each year, over 400 students and 100 teachers benefited from the training programs. The courses were delivered both in-person and online, ensuring that teachers all over Italy could participate. The dedication and passion of the ST Foundation volunteers were evident in every workshop and training session. Their commitment to engaging with students and teachers was truly admirable.
How do you view the mission and work of the ST Foundation?
Dolma: I deeply appreciate the mission of the ST Foundation and the competence of its volunteers. Their work is crucial in today’s world, where digital skills are increasingly important. The partnership between ACRA and the ST Foundation is more than just a collaboration; it is a shared vision of a future where every child has access to quality education, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Looking back, how do you feel about the journey and the collaboration with the ST Foundation?
Dolma: The collaboration with the ST Foundation has not only helped ACRA achieve its goals but also created a lasting impact on the lives of many children and teachers. It is a testament to what can be achieved when organizations come together with a common purpose and a shared commitment to making a difference.
Thank you Dolma!
ACRA is a non-governmental, secular and independent organization, founded in Milan in 1968 and committed for over fifty years to international cooperation, the protection of human rights and the fight against poverty and inequality.
It works with local communities in Africa and Latin America to guarantee the right to access to food, water, education, energy; to protect and safeguard the environment and to support inclusive and sustainable growth, valorizing local talents and promoting gender equality.
In Europe and Italy it promotes a culture of dialogue, integration, intercultural exchange and solidarity; projects to combat gender violence and climate change.
It organizes global citizenship education activities for schools and young people; it is committed to promoting sustainable agricultural models and consumption practices.
www.acra.it