Devices for Students

Latest Update:

23-Aug- 2021 - A smartphone was given to a 8th Std Student in Pune

About this initiative

In the time of this pandemic, the need for mobile devices to attend classes has become a basic necessity for students. There are many students out there who are unable to attend classes as they don't have proper devices.

The objective of this group is to help students from economically weaker backgrounds to attend online classes in India. This can be in the form of arranging secondhand smartphones/tablets in good condition or pooling funds to buy a new device or providing any technical help required in general.

As a group we will

Identify students with such requirements. They should be an acquaintance/verified source where we can vouch for the need for intervention.
Apart from arranging for the device, we would also ensure that the student can start attending classes. This can be in the form of technical help necessary for internet connection, setting up accounts, installing apps, etc.
In cases where parents are unable to figure out the on boarding process, we would get in touch with the school faculty and help them with the process.
It is not an expectation that everyone here needs to contribute in monetary form or help with arranging a device for every student identified. We are coming together to reach out to people within our network/community and help bridge this gap in ways we can.

Image Source: The Hindu

What you can do

Help identify students in need around you

1. A good starting point is talking to your maids, house helps, cooks, apartment watchmen, local vegetable vendors, kirana store workers, etc. They are people you know and interact with on a regular basis. Check if their kids are in school. If yes, then are online classes being conducted in their schools. Are the kids attending classes regularly? Are there any issues? And take it from there.

2. If you are unable to talk to them due to language or any other constraint please send us a message on the WhatsApp group and help us connect with them.

Help create a pool of secondhand smartphones/tablets in good condition

1. Check with family members, friends network, neighbors, Resident Welfare Associations, etc. if they have devices that can be donated.

2. Determine if a donated device is in good condition and can be added to the pool.

3. Suggest devices that can be bought to meet a student's requirement. Example: A particular model of smartphone/tablet; where to buy etc.

4. Click Donate your Device to register a device you want to donate.

NOTE: We will collect the devices from individuals only when we find a student with matching requirement. We do not want to collect them in advance.

Help pool funds

1. If the device pool is empty or the available devices are not meeting a student's requirement, we will pool funds and buy a new device. You can help with pooling funds either by individual contributions or by tapping into your network.

2. You could also pledge an amount for this cause before hand. This will help us to reach out to you when the need arises.

NOTE: We will initiate the pooling of funds based on case to case basis. We do not want to collect donations in advance for now.

Monitoring help

1. Each student's request will need to be monitored from the time it is submitted to the time the student starts attending online classes. You can help with this by tracking a request and its progress. This will basically involve talking to the student/guardian/faculty and identifying the kind of device needed (smartphone v/s tablet), coordinating the delivery of the device to the student, help with setting-up and usage of the device, check if the student is able to start attending class, monitor this weekly for a month. The monitor will be the first point of contact for the student. Anyone from the group can signup for this.

Where do we start?

The first step is to identify students in need and click 'Refer a Student' to submit the details.

Lets get started!

DISCLAIMER

After initial checks if the group decides that we will not be taking up the request, the same cannot be held against the group. The right to accept/reject a request solely lies with the group and this cannot be questioned by the students.

The work being done is for goodwill and pro bono in nature. If the donated devices stop functioning later, it can be shared back as feedback but the group cannot be held accountable for the same.

Though we will do our best to help deserving students, it is cannot be expected that every request submitted will be fulfilled.