15.04.2020 – 16.04.2020
In Podgorica today, 70 smartphones with two-month internet packages have been delivered to the elementary school “Božidar Vuković Podgoričanin” for Roma-Egyptian (RE) children. Smartphones with internet packages were also delivered for school mediators who assist them in education.
Without the usually present voices of children, the school bell and the voices of teachers, but instead with them present inside their hearts, Regional Coordinator of Help Klaus Mock, together with Matija Otašević Telecom communications expert, have handed over the smartphones and SIM cards to the School Principal Ljubinka Nedić and only a few school mediators present, because of the measures of social distance. Smartphones and SIM cards will be further distributed to the children following the appropriate procedure.
Independent advisor Milica Pajović attended the event on behalf of the Ministry of Education of Montenegro.
Both Ms. Pajović and School Principal Ljubinka Nedić emphasized that this action is very important at this time, because of the coronavirus and #stayathome campaign because the Ministry of Education has undertaken a major step with the #learnfromhome campaign, which has enabled students to follow the schooling from their homes via TV and online.
They emphasized that the support from Help, with funding from the German Government and assistance from Telekom practically means that children from families with difficult socio-economic status, such as the majority of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro, will fulfill their right to regularly attend classes trough the #learnfromhome program.
School Principal, Ms. Nedić especially thanked Help for their long-standing cooperation and support for this school, where the largest number of RE children in Podgorica attend classes.
Montenegrin Telekom’s Corporate Communications Specialist, Matija Otašević, pointed out that they were pleased with the opportunity to participate in the #learnfromhome program, so that due to the coronavirus crisis, all children in Montenegro would be able to fulfill one of their basic human rights – the right to education.
Today, Help activists also delivered another thirty smartphones and internet packages to the “Radomir Mitović” elementary school in Berane. These smartphones and internet packages were also for Roma-Egyptian children and school mediators.
This action was funded by the German Government with 73,900 Euros, and was supported by Montenegrin Telekom in the amount of 9,263 Euros.
This distribution of 100 smartphones is a part of a larger Help campaign, during which another 1650 aid packages will be distributed by the end of this month to 1396 Roma-Egyptian (RE) families, one of the most vulnerable categories of population, especially affected by the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The packages will include food and hygiene products.
In accordance with the recommendations of the National Coordination Body, packages will be distributed by the Red Cross of Montenegro with the assistance of Help, in the Montenegrin municipalities of: Berane, Bijelo Polje, Nikšić, Ulcinj, Herceg Novi, Bar, Budva, Kotor, Tivat, Podgorica, Cetinje, Pljevlja and Rožaje.
Here are some of the audio recordings from today’s distribution of smartphones, SIM cards and internet packages in Podgorica, in the school hall of the “Božidar Vuković Podgoričanin”.
School principal Ljubinka Nedić:
Advisor in the Ministry of Education Milica Pajović:
Telekom Corporate Communications Expert Matija Otašević:
Here are the photos:
Help’s activist in Thursday on Konik with an school mediator deliver smartphones and SIM card with internet package for two months :
Help activists have also reached Berane , and handed over 30 smartphones to “Radomir Mitrović” Elementary School.
