Every young person deserves a fair chance in the digital world. Yet for millions across Europe – refugees, young people from rural communities, those facing unemployment or social exclusion – a laptop remains out of reach, and with it, the skills and confidence to build a better future. That is precisely the gap that HP HOPE and YMCA are working together to close.
What Is HP HOPE?
HP HOPE is HP’s global initiative to tackle digital inequity by donating refurbished laptops and providing access to digital learning programmes to underserved communities around the world.
Through partnerships with trusted organisations like YMCA, these devices do not simply land in a room. They are embedded into structured programmes that turn technology into genuine opportunity.
A Partnership Built on Trust and Local Roots
In 2025, the HP–YMCA Europe partnership delivered over 1,700 laptops to 23 countries, establishing more than 500 community digital hubs and reaching over 739,000 people.
But behind every number is a real person: a young mother in Moldova learning to use a computer for the first time, a displaced student in Ukraine accessing education despite the war, a young jobseeker in Spain gaining the digital skills an employer was looking for.
What makes this partnership distinctive is the YMCA’s unmatched community presence. Local YMCAs are trusted, embedded, and accountable. They know who needs support and how to deliver it with dignity. HP provides the technology and the learning platforms; YMCA provides the people, the places, and the relationships.
What Happens in a Digital Hub
Each HP–YMCA Digital Hub offers:
- HP LIFE – free, accredited online courses in digital and business skills
- HP Gaming Garage – creative and technical learning through gaming
- HP AI Teachers Academy – training educators to prepare young people for tomorrow’s jobs
- Employability coaching, digital literacy training, and leadership programmes
- Targeted outreach to refugees, migrants, NEETs, and rural communities
The Scale of Change in 2025
The results speak for themselves, but they also point to how much more is possible. In Ukraine, 23 hubs reached over 350,000 people in the midst of ongoing conflict. In Moldova, a network of 389 hubs served more than 118,000 individuals. In Spain, Greece, and Albania combined, over 160,000 people gained new digital skills and employability support. Programmes are now active or launching in Germany, Ireland, UK, Sweden, Portugal, and beyond.
Join Us
Whether you are a company looking for a meaningful partnership, a foundation seeking proven impact, or a YMCA exploring how to bring this programme to your community, there is a place for you in this story.
Digital exclusion is not inevitable. With the right partners, the right tools, and the right community infrastructure, we can ensure that every young person in Europe has the skills to thrive.
Get in touch with YMCA Europe to find out how you can get involved.
