The initiative launched during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 has become a pillar in the fight against digital poverty in France.
In 2020
Thomas Edison High School in Échirolles received 20 PCs in July 2020. One of the Foundation’s Board Members, Patrick Dureault, spoke about the digital divide and the Foundation’s goal.
In Chambéry the Association “Ma Chance Moi Aussi” received 15 more laptops in September 2020 to help children, families, and teachers close the digital divide.
In 2021
ST sites in France donated more than 100 PCs to various organizations to help them manage their educational operations. More in detail: 27 PCs were given to the La Garenne Highschool in Voiron and the La Varappe association in Aubagne in Q1 2021; 17 PCs were given to Vercors Sciences in Lans en Vercors and Grésifablab in Crolles in Q3 2021; and the Parents d’Elèves indépendant de Montlouis group, CSC La Passerelle, the University of Grenoble, and Marie Curie High School in Echirolles received 33 PCs in the fourth quarter of 2021.
In 2022, thanks to the partnerships established with the ST Sites in France, the Foundation donated more than 300 PCs to various organizations :
- Q1 2022, 83 PCs were sent to the Foundation in Morocco to support the restart of activities in Morocco and setting up new DU labs
- Q2 2022, over 60 PCs were dispatched to primary schools and high schools in Grenoble and Rennes
- Q3 2022, some 30 PCs were allocated to various associations to support Ukrainian refugees in France, including 18 PCs to the Red Cross for its “Ukrainian Village” in Tours.
- Q4 2022, More than 30 PCs were donated to associations to bridge the digital divide for adults and older people.
In 2023 the “#Noonebehind Project” took on a new dimension whereby the Foundation, in collaboration with ST Sites in France, donated over 1000 items of digital equipment including PCs, monitors and Smartphones throughout the country. More than 60% of the PCs donated went towards educational support, nursery and primary schools, secondary schools & high schools, universities, and adult education.
In April a specific donation was made to the French Association “Aide Médicale & Caritative France-Ukraine”. Three pallets of digital equipment (PCs, monitors, keyboards …) were shipped, along with one of the Association’s humanitarian expeditions, to the Kharkiv region in Ukraine where more than half the schools had been destroyed and PCs are now indispensable tools to allow schoolchildren to follow their classes remotely.
Since intensifying its activities in France in 2021, the Foundation has become a key player in the fight against the digital divide. Through the formation of numerous partnerships with various local foundations and associations, the Foundation has been actively working to ensure that technology is accessible to all, and that digital literacy becomes a widespread competency.
The collaborations have been multifaceted, focusing on providing access to essential technology, creating and implementing digital literacy programs, and reaching out to marginalized communities to ensure equitable digital inclusion.
Looking to the future, the Foundation’s ongoing discussions with current and potential partners are aimed at further expanding its reach and continuing its vital work. The goal is not only to provide immediate solutions but also to create sustainable and scalable models for digital inclusion, ensuring that the benefits of the digital age are shared by all. With a strong network and a clear vision, the Foundation is set to make significant strides in helping to bridge the digital divide in France.