The Digital School, a pivotal part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, is set to donate 10,000 refurbished electronic devices to underprivileged students across the globe. This initiative is under the ‘DYOD: Donate Your Own Device’ campaign, executed in association with the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC).
The campaign aims to gather used devices from individuals and institutions, ensuring students, particularly those lacking access to digital resources, can tap into digital education. This drive resonates with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, emphasizing the significance of digital education for the sector’s future.
For those looking to contribute, both monetary and device donations are welcome. Donors can visit the campaign’s website, donateyourowndevice.org, or for mobile contributions, Etisalat and DU users can send an SMS to 2441 and 3441, respectively.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, highlighted the initiative’s dual objectives: promoting generosity and addressing the growing concern of e-waste. The campaign is in sync with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, focusing on environmental sustainability and the challenges of electronic waste, which totals about 50 million metric tonnes annually.
Hammoud Abdullah Al Junaibi, the Acting Secretary-General of the ERC, praised The Digital School’s past achievements in extending education to countries that benefited from its prior programmes. In appreciation of their support, collaborating organizations will receive Green Contribution Certificates in Sustainability and Recycling from Ecyclex and ReLoop.
Established in November 2020, The Digital School is the “first fully integrated digital school.” Designed to bolster digital education, especially in areas with limited educational infrastructure, the school has already impacted over 60,000 students across eight countries. With content available in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish, it also boasts of training over 1,500 digital teachers.