Fundación Orange, and Orange’s Gigas Solidarios programme, contribute to closing the digital gap affecting Roma pupils with a donation of equipment to the Fundación Secretariado Gitano [editar]

Thanks to Fundación Orange and Orange’s Gigas Solidarios programme, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano has been able to offer access to tablets and the internet to more than 167 Roma families in a situation of vulnerability, so that their girls and boys can continue their studies at home.  

“Despite the support we offer through our programmes and our educational guidance, many Roma girls and boys are finding themselves unable to follow their lessons because they lack the necessary resources. More than 75% of the children we work with on our programmes lack access to a computer, while more than 40% lack an internet connection”, states Isidro Rodríguez, director of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano. “The support of Orange and its Foundation is proving essential for us given that, with this donation of equipment and internet connections for almost 200 families, we are able to help close the digital divide for these households”.

Luz Usamentiaga, Director of Fundación Orange, explains that “at Orange we are working as hard as we can to help citizens overcome this grave public health crisis. We have increased connection options and leisure options for our clients and have provided internet-connected devices to hospitals and care homes. Today we announce this initiative, aimed at helping those familes who have fewest resources”.

Since 2017, Orange and Fundación Orange has been supporting the Fundación Secretariado Gitano in its commitment to access to new technologies as a means of increasing social inclusion among Roma people. In this time, Orange and Fundación Orange have worked with the Fundación Secretariado Gitano on various programmes related to education and digital transformation: The EDYTA programme is a national programme for education and digital transformation, aimed at women as well as at third sector organisations which work with women in a situation of vulnerability, at risk of exclusion or with difficulties finding employment.

The Digital Classrooms in which EDYTA is carried out have been refurbished and equipped, by Fundación Orange, with digital devices and tools which allow the course to be delivered and participants to develop their technological skills. “This is a great initiative from Fundación Orange which is empowering dozens of Roma women and helping to increase the social impact of their actions, It also fosters their social inclusion and their participation in the labour market thanks to the development of their digital skills”, states Rodríguez.

Another of the initiatives launched by the two organisations is the training programme for Technicians in the Home Installation of Optical Fibre, which aims to provide trainees with the necessary knowledge and skills to install Home Optical Fibre. This training programme includes practical work experience in various companies and organisations, dealing with real-life work situations and enabling trainees to put into practice what they have learned during their training.