In the midst of adversity, Lisa, a 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee seeking refuge in Romania, has found a new avenue for her education. A laptop, provided as part of the Ukraine Digital Equity Project initiated by UNICEF, has transformed Lisa’s educational journey, empowering her to keep pace with online classes and broaden her horizons.
This transformation was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Global Alliance for Business Education, an initiative supported by Theirworld. Thousands of students like Lisa are reaping the benefits of this endeavor, ensuring continuity in their studies despite the challenges posed by displacement.
The journey that led Lisa to Romania began with the upheaval of conflict in Ukraine, prompting her and her mother to seek safety and shelter elsewhere. This decision necessitated leaving behind not only her home and father but also her possessions. Once resettled in Romania, Lisa was determined to persist in her education. However, her means were limited to two mobile phones, one dedicated to video lessons from her teachers and the other reserved for reading course material.
“I had to zoom in on every page, and I had problems with my eyes,” Lisa shared, underscoring the hardships she encountered in navigating her online lessons.
However, the course of Lisa’s education took a brighter turn when the Global Alliance for Business Education, with backing from Theirworld, facilitated a partnership that extended laptops to Lisa and countless other displaced and refugee students hailing from Ukraine. This intervention proved transformative, rendering her lessons more accessible and engaging.
In a heartfelt acknowledgment of the impact of the laptop, Lisa expressed her gratitude to UNICEF, the organization that facilitated the provision of the computer: “From the moment I received the laptop, my life changed a lot. I can learn faster now. I can see the lessons better and read the text without problems. I’m going to save my laptop because I’m going to school again in the fall and I’m going to need it badly.”
Lisa’s family, originally from Kherson in Ukraine, now resides in the Romanian city of Galati, proximate to the Ukrainian border. Despite the circumstances, Lisa remains resolute in her commitment to education and has even developed a penchant for graphic design.
In fact, Lisa has already been exploring her passion for graphic design through an online tool on her laptop. Looking forward, she envisions a professional career in this creative field, sharing her aspiration: “I see myself as a professional graphic designer in the future.”
This pivotal initiative has found support from technology giant Hewlett-Packard (HP), which drives the “Digital Equity in Ukraine” endeavor. Through this initiative, HP has generously donated over 70,000 laptops and learning devices to UNICEF. In collaboration with the Global Corporate Education Alliance, a movement dedicated to addressing the global education crisis, HP’s contribution extends to Microsoft, which provides software support.
The laptops have reached the hands of Ukrainian refugees spanning various countries, as well as displaced Ukrainian children and educators, transcending geographical boundaries to empower these students with the tools to foster their dreams and education.
