NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A donation of $102,000 by the Rotary Clubs of Nassau, in partnership with Aliv and REV, pushed the Ministry of Education closer to its goal to ensure every child in The Bahamas has access to an electronic device for the 2020/2021 school year.
The donation, which was made during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters on Thursday, is earmarked for students and teachers on Abaco who were adversely affected by the ravaging effects of Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. It will absorb the cost of tablets and MiFi boxes for over 400 students and teachers on Abaco.
Assistant Governor of Rotary Bahamas District 7020 East Ken Strachan, in presenting the check, said he was “pleased to be in such a setting” as his organization from March began formulating ways in which it could bring relief to the citizens of The Bahamas.
Strachan noted the data packages are exclusively for educational instruction and learning, and consequently students will not be permitted to use the devices for other purposes. The packages, he said, expire June 1, 2021. Over 200 tablets and MiFi devices have already been procured and are en route to Abaco. According to Strachan, as of Monday, November 30, 2020, students and teachers will begin receiving their devices.
“Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd expressed his appreciation not only as a leader in education, but as a fellow Rotarian,” noted the Ministry of Education in a statement yesterday. “He said he is very proud of the organization’s accomplishments and is most grateful for its contribution to addressing the digital divide in The Bahamas.”
Kendrick Delaney, head of Digital Growth at Aliv, said his company along with REV is “committed to providing devices and the internet connectivity that really brings this to life”.
“We can’t give measure to how much these devices and internet connectivity will bring to The Bahamas,” Delaney said, noting that his company has provided an online donation platform for this cause which will run until December 31, 2020. Interested donors, he said, are to log onto www.connectivity4all.com.
