YMCA and HP partner to bridge the digital divide and skill youth for success

YMCA and the HP Foundation partnership aims to enhance young people’s learning, support their wellbeing, increase their employability and resilience, and empower them to be leaders and changemakers in their communities and the world.

This programme builds on the wider partnership between the YMCA and HP, which was launched In January 2022, to accelerate digital equity of young people and underserved communities around the world.

The partnership has already yielded success in the Republic of Moldova, where the first Educational Digital Centres were established. The centres provides access to computers and the internet, as well as digital skills training to young people from low-income families and rural areas. This initiative has had a positive impact on the community, allowing young people to develop essential skills that will help them succeed in the modern world.

The partnership has also created digital community hubs in the West Balkans, where access to technology and digital skills is limited. These hubs provide a safe and inclusive space for young people to learn and develop new skills, and to connect with their peers. The centres also offer training in areas such as coding, graphic design, and digital marketing, providing young people with the skills they need to succeed in the digital economy.

The partnership with YMCA helps HP make progress toward its goal to enable better learning outcomes for 150 million people by 2025. In its 2021 Sustainable Impact Report, HP said more than 74 million students and adult learners have benefited from HP’s education programs and solutions since the beginning of 2015.

This partnership is an important step towards bridging the digital divide in Europe. By providing access to technology and digital skills training to young people in underprivileged areas, the partnership is helping to create a more inclusive and equitable society. It is an example of how public-private partnerships can make a positive impact on communities, and how technology can be used to empower young people and promote social change.