The Vodafone Albania Foundation donates 15,000 smart devices for children who cannot access online learning.

The #RedforKids campaign, initiated by the “Vodafone Albania” Foundation in the first month of the Covid-19 pandemic with the donation of the first 5,000 tablets and mobile phones, continues its mission to enable children from families in need across Albania to have greater access to the online learning system.

At the event “Digitalization, for greater access to education,” organized at the 9-year school “Kus,” Kashar, Tirana—one of the schools included in the list of beneficiaries of this initiative—the donation of another 10,000 smart devices (phones and tablets equipped with SIM cards) was presented, with the aim that no one is left behind in the learning process. 15,000 smart devices is the total contribution of Vodafone within #RedforKids, one of the most significant donations for the education system in these difficult times for the country. Present at this event were the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Ms. Evis Kushi, the General Director of Vodafone Albania, Mr. Achilleas Kanaris, and the Director of AKSHI, Ms. Mirlinda Karçanaj, as representatives supporting this digitalization process in Albania’s education system.

In her welcoming speech, Minister Kushi thanked “Vodafone Albania” for the contribution and emphasized the importance of internet and technology access, especially at such moments: “I truly take this opportunity to warmly thank Vodafone Albania, because these tablets will greatly help both students and teachers to develop and ensure the smooth running of the learning process,” said Minister Kushi. She added that during the pandemic everyone faced previously unknown challenges. “From the very first days of taking office, I have been on the ground and I can say that I am pleased with the high awareness of students, teachers, and parents. In this great effort, I proudly say that we are not alone. We have many partners, donors, and various businesses by our side, who have social responsibility in their DNA.”

From the beginning of the pandemic, Vodafone Albania offered 5,000 digital devices to students from families in need, who otherwise could not follow online learning. “It was an extraordinary help and I am glad that today they are doubling the support,” said Minister Kushi.

The General Director of Vodafone Albania, Mr. Achilleas Kanaris, stated: “RedForKids is the initiative we undertook immediately in the first weeks of quarantine to help those children who could not have access to online learning. I am happy that together with our Foundation we have managed to reach 15,000 families across Albania and are enabling their children to follow online learning just like any other child. In the digital era, online access is not a luxury but a necessity.

As a leading technology company, we give an important role to digital education and inclusion. Digitalization promotes inclusion and offers equal opportunities for access to education and information, and we will continue to contribute in this direction. This initiative is in line with our objectives as Vodafone Group, to create a digital society where everyone is connected and no one is left behind in the digital transformation.”

The 15,000 smart devices are being distributed by the Ministry of Education to children from families in need, identified in several areas of Albania, with the aim that no one is left out of lessons—only away from the school desks.