UOB distributes more than 2,700 laptops to students

Singapore

UOB will distribute 2,730 laptops as part of its UOB My Digital Space programme. The bank will donate 230 new laptops worth close to S$300,000 to underprivileged students - particularly from tertiary institutions - to facilitate their home-based learning. Recipients will also receive essential home-based learning accessories such as a mouse, a headset with in-built microphone and a multi-USB port.

The financial institution has also teamed up with non-profit organisation Engineering Good to refurbish and distribute the remaining 2,500 used laptops progressively.

Suresh Natarajan, principal of ITE College Central, one of the schools benefiting from the bank's laptop donation, said: "Many of our students either do not have a computer device or need to share one device with their siblings and parents, which badly affects their active participation in home-based learning. Many of the students end up accessing lessons from their mobile phones, which may not be ideal."

UOB My Digital Space aims to provide children from disadvantaged backgrounds with digital learning tools and skills. The programme is part of the bank's broader global #UnitedForYou Covid-19 Relief Programme.

Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and chief executive officer, UOB, said: "We are heartened to see many students benefitting from the UOB My Digital Space programme. Our efforts reflect UOB's commitment to promoting digital inclusion among students from lower-income families, which helps foster greater social inclusiveness."

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Since its inception last year, the programme has helped to meet the digital education needs of close to 1,230 beneficiaries in Singapore.

Dominic, a 12-year-old student from CareHut@ Jiemin Primary school, said that the laptop - with a bigger screen than his tablet - was more conducive for his learning space. "With the bigger screen, I can do math work better, where there are long sums to read. I am also able to use the laptop to learn more coding activities."