Park Place Technologies, a global IT infrastructure services and solutions provider, is celebrating the International Day of the Girl by announcing a laptop donation programme, TechForGood, with Ireland-based STEM non-profit I Wish.
58% of DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) students in Ireland do not have a laptop for schoolwork, according toCamara Ireland. UNICEF also acknowledges the growing digital divide, recent reports show that girls are more likely to be at a disadvantage, as girls are less likely than boys to own devices and gain access to tech-related jobs.
During the next year, Park Place Technologies will join global corporations focusing on this need by donating a minimum of 100 refurbished laptops to female students in Ireland who have limited or no access to technology, as part of the TechForGood initiative.
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This zero-waste recycling initiative bridges the accessibility gap by providing refurbished laptops to female students across Ireland who may have problems accessing technology.
Teachers in Ireland who have applied for the first wave of donations report an increased need for laptops.
Park Place Technologies and I Wish have been partners since 2019. Speaking about the new programme, Jennifer Deutsch, Chief Marketing Officer for Park Place Technologies, said: “By changing attitudes one step at a time through global initiatives, providing tangible resources and championing success stories, I Wish is making genuine change that will impact generations of women. Park Place is an I Wish partner as we believe in developing a fully diverse workforce where all talent can learn and thrive.”
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Gillian Keating, Co-Founder of I Wish, also added: “The past year has exposed the profound digital divide that exists. Many homes have no devices like laptops while some households share a device. Those without the resources can be cut off from opportunities to develop skills and to network with like-minded girls and role models, which increases gender inequality. Access to technology should be a right, not a privilege.”
Source: Written from press release.
