Smart Communications, Inc. has just partnered with “Project WiFi” to provide connectivity solutions to students as learning shifts online due to the global pandemic.
Project WiFi is a donation drive started in June by seven working law students from De La Salle University to give pocket WiFi devices and data load packages to students who are not able to afford them.
“Most of us are university scholars, and we wanted to pay it forward by assisting other students,” said Peachy Garcia, Project WiFi co-founder.
Smart is donating more than a thousand Smart Bro LTE Pocket WiFi units and thousands of pesos worth of Smart Bro load to the beneficiaries.
“We are always on the lookout for opportunities to help students adapt to the new normal,” said Jane Basas, Smart SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business Group in a statement. “We have also expanded our data packages to address the evolving needs of our subscribers in these difficult times.”
The Project WiFi group banked on social media to spread awareness for their cause. The program gained traction after the posts were shared by media personalities and influencers.
The program was soon flooded with applications for assistance from students all over the country. In order to assure that they were responding to those most challenged, the group instituted a stringent selection process.
Beneficiaries are asked to submit an essay detailing their circumstances and stating how an “Ayudang WiFi” would help in their education. The essays are then evaluated based on the urgency of need, applicant’s personal challenges, and financial situation.
Project WiFi has helped at least 200 students from the initial response to the donation drive. Thousands of more students are waiting in line. The group also received pledges from businesses to donate a percentage of their sales to the project.
“We will continue to explore ways to help make online education accessible to all students,” Peachy said.
For more on Project WiFi, click here.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
