ABN AMRO is donating two thousand laptops to children who, due to the corona outbreak, are forced to attend class from home but don’t have a laptop to do this. Next Wednesday, 25 March, the laptops will be handed to the Youth Education Fund (Jeugdeducatiefonds). They will ensure that these laptops end up in the right place.
Last week schools were informed that they had to close. Teachers from all over the country immediately went into high gear to facilitate at-home learning. The Youth Education Fund and ABN AMRO joined in. The result of these efforts is that ABN AMRO will help facilitate at-home learning for two thousand children from less fortunate families. IBM will install Microsoft Office on the laptops, after which they will be distributed by the Youth Education Fund.
The Youth Education Fund immediately started worrying when they heard that schools were closing. More than half of the students attending the schools they help grow up in a difficult home environment due to financial or social problems. It’s these children that like being at school because it’s a safe and familiar environment for them. Home learning is also quite a challenge when you don’t have a laptop or computer.
Arie Slob, Minister of Education, praised the Youth Education Fund and ABN AMRO for their energy and their fast action: “We are joining hands to give all children a chance, even in these exceptional times.”
