bridging the digital divide with the Digital Unify Program

bridging the digital divide with the Digital Unify Program


At STMicroelectronics, we’re dedicated to positively impacting experience, and delivering complete academic applications globally by the ST Basis. The mission is to develop, coordinate, and sponsor initiatives that use trendy sciences and know-how to advertise human progress.

One of many flagship initiatives is the Digital Unify Program, an in depth academic effort energetic throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Since its launch in 2003, this program has skilled over a million people throughout 29 international locations, adapting the strategies to fulfill the wants of varied teams, together with kids, adults, people with disabilities, and the aged.

The affect of the Digital Unify Program

fox profilo
Pietro Fox, board member of ST Basis

The ST Basis’s affect is just not solely measurable by the variety of people skilled however by the tales of transformation that come from the center of those communities. Each course supplied by the Digital Unify Program turns into a stepping stone for change, enabling folks to harness the facility of know-how for a greater tomorrow.

 

The Digital Unify Program (DU) units up pc coaching facilities (DU Labs) in collaboration with native companions reminiscent of faculties, NGOs, native administrations, and authorities businesses. At the moment, this system provides 4 free programs:

  • Informatics and Pc Fundamentals (ICB): a 20-hour pc literacy course specializing in important expertise like looking out matters on-line, sending emails, and utilizing phrase processors and spreadsheets. Shereen’s story is simply one of many many examples of empowerment by training.
  • Pill for Children (T4K): a course for youngsters aged 9 to 13, geared toward offering an intuitive understanding of ICTs for problem-solving and private growth. Learn extra about what we’re doing to assist children in Murshidabad, some of the underdeveloped areas in West Bengal (India).
  • Introduction to Pc Fundamentals for Visually Impaired Individuals (ICB4VI): created in collaboration with the College of Milan, this course makes digital expertise accessible to visually impaired learners. It provides over 50 hours of coaching on key matters reminiscent of keyboard navigation, Microsoft Phrase doc creation, Excel knowledge administration, e-mail dealing with, and Web navigation.
icb certificate morocco foundation
ICB certificates distribution, Morocco
  • Pill for Seniors Course (T4S): This course has a typical period of 20 hours, throughout which the beneficiaries have the prospect to be taught fundamental expertise like methods to use the Web, e-mail accounts, take footage, and extra superior duties that may assist them lead a extra energetic and e-connected life. Learn the story of Remedios within the Philippines to know extra about how this course can change folks’s lives.

Along with these basic programs, this system stays attentive to the evolving wants of the communities it serves. The ST Basis is all the time able to develop new programs and adapt our choices to make sure everybody has entry to the digital instruments they should meet future challenges.

Creating a greater future with DU native communities

The Native Communities (LC) challenge is a key initiative of the ST Basis. It helps the creation of DU Labs and encourages volunteering amongst ST staff. The objective is to offer each citizen with the information to beat social, financial, and technological inequalities, reaching human progress and a dignified life for everybody. If you wish to know extra about methods to join with the ST Basis to profit your local people, click on right here.

pietro palella
Pietro Palella, President of the ST Basis

Our dedication to bridging the digital divide is unwavering. On the ST Basis, we consider that entry to know-how is not only a privilege however a basic proper. With the Digital Unify Program, we’re reaching out to communities worldwide, offering them with  the instruments and expertise vital for private and collective progress.

Increasing our attain

The ST Basis continues to broaden its attain in international locations the place there’s a important want to beat social, financial, and technological inequalities.

Session one T4K course - India
Session one T4K course – India

In 2023, the Basis signed a strategic collaboration settlement with the Worldwide Telecommunication Union (ITU) – a specialised company of the United Nations liable for points associated to info and communication applied sciences (ICTs) – strengthening the dedication to decreasing the digital divide. This collaboration focuses on empowering marginalized communities, notably ladies and youth, by digital expertise growth. This partnership with ITU aligns with the mission to foster digital inclusion and promote sustainable growth throughout varied areas.

In Senegal, the Basis launched coaching applications for younger women and visually impaired people, making certain extra inclusive entry to know-how and training. Moreover, they performed a Coaching of Trainers (ToT) program in Ghana to equip the primary academics within the nation to ship our ICB4VI course, enhancing accessibility for visually impaired learners.

ICBVI Train the Trainers course in Ghana
ICBVI Prepare the Trainers course in Ghana

In India, the efforts included increasing the T4S senior citizen program, empowering ladies with digital literacy, and introducing the Digital Unify program in prisons, aiding rehabilitation and reintegration. The summer season camps in Morocco reached 9,502 kids throughout 29 places, offering high quality training and fostering unity amongst underprivileged kids.

 

Patrick Dureault, Board Member managing France, donating PCs
Patrick Dureault, Board Member managing France, donating PCs

In France, the Basis donated practically 1,000 computer systems and shaped partnerships with main entities.

In Italy, they efficiently promoted coding in training with a brand new initiative along with ACRA, inspired digital careers, and skilled volunteers to interact with college students. The initiative reached faculties, skilled academics, and concerned volunteers, specializing in inclusion and decreasing inequality.

The collaboration with Vittascience

: ST volunteer experimenting how to use Vittascience starting kits
ST volunteer experimenting methods to use Vittascience beginning kits

The Basis has made important further strides in 2023, specializing in decreasing digital training disparity and enhancing program efficacy. Key initiatives embody creating a brand new computational pondering and coding course utilizing sources from Vittascience, an academic platform providing modern instructing instruments. The course goals to bolster current applications and pay particular consideration to digital training for older folks

Shireen’s and Barthelemy’s journeys and the numerous energetic initiatives in 14 international locations are simply a few of many current inspiring tales highlighting the significance of offering academic alternatives to much less privileged communities. These tales present how entry to trendy sciences and know-how can promote human progress and

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