Vodafone Foundation Hungary

The Vodafone Hungary Foundation was established in 2003 as a part of Vodafone's global responsibility policy with the aim of launching locally organised social investment programs according to the needs of Hungarian society. In Hungary, about 17% of children in primary schools come from underprivileged backgrounds and do not have access to ICT. The Vodafone Digital School Programme is providing digital education to children in less advantaged elementary schools to ensure that both teachers and students develop the necessary ICT skills needed for the digital future. Since its launch in December 2015 the programme reached 6,500 children (aged between 6 and 14 years old) and 700 teachers in 25 elementary schools in Hungary. Over 1,300 state-of-the-art Vodafone enabled tablets have been distributed to the elementary schools, with a 3GB monthly data allowance which are used for educational purposes on a daily basis. The second stage of the Digital School Programme focuses on the familiarisation of participating schools with the broadest possible scope of the educational application of previously provided digital devices. The Vodafone Hungary Foundation has also developed a motivation system aiming to encourage teachers and schoolchildren to use the devices provided by Vodafone in a diverse manner, learning and teaching in a playful way. ‘Through the Digital School Programme, we are building the future of these children, as without digital competencies they have a much lower chance of doing well in the future. We aim to create equal opportunities, making it possible for children who, unlike their more fortunate peers, cannot afford to play with a tablet at home, to grow up as digital natives.’ – explained Amanda Nelson, CEO of Vodafone Hungary.