How NearForm Is Helping E-ducare Provide Education to Vulnerable Children 

E-ducare first partnered  with Irish-founded engineering software consultancy, NearForm, in May last year. After approaching the business, in the hopes of securing their commitment to our cause, we presented our Vietnam and Tanzania projects to their team, and introduced them to our plans for creating an accessible, English-language ‘Coding for Kids’ course.

Due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, poverty levels increased significantly as parents were unable to work and provide the basics for their families. As such, the work of E-ducare became even more critical to the children in these communities. With NearForm’s support, we were able to continue our mission of providing vital education services and improving access to digital skills for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

To date, NearForm has contributed €11,000 to E-ducare and donated refurbished laptops that will be utilised in E-ducare's learning center on the outskirts of Hanoi, Vietnam. These funds have allowed children to access education and provided food for their families during the lockdown. Marta Spiga, one of E-ducare's volunteers and Digital Marketing Manager at NearForm, delivered the laptops to E-ducare's facility during her trip to Vietnam.

"I had the opportunity to witness the curiosity and joy of the children as they received the laptops. Many of these kids don't own personal laptops, and the ability to access them in our library for studying makes a huge difference as it opens up a world of opportunities for them."

Additionally, Eamon Frisby, IT Administrator at NearForm and a key promoter of the initiative since its inception, commented:

"I am thrilled to participate in charity work as it provides me with an opportunity to give back to society. The satisfaction that comes with contributing to a cause that positively impacts the lives of others is unparalleled. By engaging in charity work, I can help alleviate some of the burdens that individuals and communities face. I firmly believe that charity work is crucial for building a better world. I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in charity work and look forward to making a positive impact in the lives of those we have helped."

Many people are familiar with the saying: "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." In order to break the cycle of poverty, simply providing money to feed people and helping them survive is not enough. Poverty represents a lack of opportunities, and education plays a crucial role in shaping individuals as human beings. It has significant impacts on economic development, social equity, and gender equality.

This is the goal of our upcoming project, with the essential help of NearForm. We aim to empower our children to envision a life different from the poverty and limited options they are accustomed to by teaching them new skills that will secure future employment.

Coding, in particular, is a promising area of study that can truly be life-changing.

Most of our children come from farming families who are losing their land due to industrialisation. They are often kids living in remote areas and do not have the same level of access to primary education that we take for granted.

With the assistance of NearForm, we will establish a volunteer programme called "Coding for Kids". NearForm engineers, who have experience in teaching both adults and children and possess a strong commitment and interest, will have the opportunity to provide online coding classes to children in the community. This programme will equip the children with fundamental digital skills and provide them with a creative platform for learning, playing, and engaging with one another.

The "Coding for Kids" course will consist of thirteen online lessons designed for a small group of children aged 8 to 12 years old. The lessons will be delivered through interactive games that teach programming fundamentals and design skills.

While the classes will be conducted online, the children will gather at the Community Learning Center in Ngoc Bai Village, Quoc Oai district, on the outskirts of Hanoi. The library has been established as a communal space, creating a safe and creative space for the local people of Quoc Oai—a suburban area of Hanoi—to develop their reading habits, connect with one another, and practice their skills. Local volunteers from E-ducare and our partner, Csds, will also assist in managing the classes and supporting the children's learning process.