Public charity collection in BBSK. Let us help children who can't access their online education.

Bratislava, 05.11.2020

With the order of the Central Crisis Staff, secondary school students have been studying at home for more than three weeks. According to estimates by the Banská Bystrica self-governing region, up to 10% of students do not have access to online education because they do not have a computer.

Immediately after the decision on the general closure of secondary schools and their transition to distance education, the Banská Bystrica self-governing region prepared a call in which it asks companies and individuals for help. If they have the opportunity to provide computers to take part in the challenge and help children gain access to education even when they have to stay at home. "These are mainly children from socially weaker and disadvantaged families who need equipment in order to be able to study at home. According to the data sent by secondary schools in the founding competence of the region, there are 2694 such children in the whole region," said Ondrej Lunter, deputy chairman of the Banská Bystrica self-governing region.

One of the first to lend a helping hand is the law firm Taylor Wessing. "It was absolutely natural for us to take part in this challenge, because we have social responsibility in our DNA. We contacted AfB, a company that focuses on refurbishing and selling computer equipment and employs people with disabilities. We procured 10 computers, which we donated to BBSK," says Andrej Leontiev, a partner at the law firm Taylor Wessing, which is also one of the founding members of the Circular Slovakia platform, this platform aims to transition Slovakia into a circular economy.

"We are glad, that we were able to help in this way as well. We take over discarded hardware from our partner companies and, after certified erasure of data stored on this hardware, refurbish it, so that it can be used again. This prolongs its life cycle, saves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions," says Marek Antoňák from AfB.

"We will urge the Ministry of Education to provide Internet access for such children - and also for teachers. There was half a year to prepare, I believe they are better off than in March,"  added Ondrej Lunter. For those who do not have the opportunity to bring a computer physically, but would like to help, the BBSK Development Agency has set up a transparent account to which any amount can be contributed: SK82 0900 0000 0051 7440 4163.

A few important facts to conclude:

• According to estimates by the Banská Bystrica self-governing region, up to 10% of students learning in the form of distance learning do not have access to online education because they do not have a computer.
• The Banská Bystrica self-governing region has thus prepared a call in which it asks companies and individuals for help.
• One of the first to offer help is the law firm Taylor Wessing. The law firm handed over 10 computers for students to the deputy chairman of the Banská Bystrica self-governing region, Ondrej Lunter.
• The public charity collection continues and both companies and individuals can get involved.