This investment is expected to reach 16 million learners by 2025.
The funded projects include the program School in a Box (Romania), under way in in 50 rural schools. The program combines an e-learning platform and the Vodafone Foundation’s Instant Classroom ‘School in a Box’ technology (tablets, laptops and Internet connectivity), to help students and teachers develop their digital skills. The platform has 5,800 courses accesses by 17,000 students and around 1,300 teachers are active in the project. The investment amounted to EUR480,000 in the past two years.
The programs, delivered in partnership with charities and NGOs, will enable people to develop their knowledge and skills in using digital technologies, with the goal to reach millions of primary and secondary learners, those who are not in education, employment or training, and the elderly.
“We remain committed, in an ever increasingly digital world, to building inclusive digital societies where nobody is left behind, which matters now more than ever as society aims to build back better following the impact of COVID-19,” said Nick Read, CEO Vodafone Group.
The EUR20 million investment will be spread over the next five years and is in addition to the estimated EUR150 million of in-kind donations from Vodafone Group to a range of COVID-19-related initiatives, and a EUR10 million investment from Vodafone Foundation in the emergency phase of the COVID-19 response in 2020.