39 Chemin du Champ-des-Filles , CH 1228 Geneva, Switzerland

 

Supporting education during the pandemic: #NoOneBehind

The transition to virtual learning began as the pandemic spread, creating a real crisis among schools in the region. The IT tools that could have helped students follow their online classes were lacking in many families’ homes.

Last April, taking notice of this need, we organized an ad hoc intervention in collaboration with the ACISMOM military corps to distribute over 100 laptops to 9 schools in Agrate Brianza and Milan. In May, the PC donations continued in cities like Lecco and Monza. Furthermore, as a result of the insightful input of our partners, we identified new potential beneficiaries in Sicily, where another 150 PCs were donated to local municipalities.

These first initiatives allowed children who lived in at-risk socio-economic communities to follow their online classes. By the end of the first lockdown we, in collaboration with ACRA, were able to address some of the educational disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Another challenge brought upon by COVID-19 was the speed with which decisions and actions had to be taken. Solutions had to be implemented faster than in normal situations to support the crumbling educational system. Keeping this goal at the forefront, we started working on an additional initiative that was entirely devoted to teachers’ demands and needs. Among them was the requirement to familiarize themselves better with the digital world. The goal was to create an engaging learning environment, despite the imposed social isolation by the lockdown.

Our #NoOneBehind initiative continued with a donation of 30 tablets to the Municipality of Agrate Brianza during July 2020. They were then distributed to three local associations supporting children with learning disabilities to be incorporated as part of their summer educational activities.

This initiative continued with a donation of 30 tablets to the Municipality of Agrate, Brianza, during the month of July 2020. They were then distributed to three local associations supporting children with learning disabilities to be incorporated as part of their summer educational activities.