73 laptops have been distributed to residents in the Grand Canal area over the last month, through the Grand Canal Innovation District’s Tech2Community programme. The pilot project aimed to deliver laptops to those who previously had no access to such a device in their homes. Applications were received from individuals who urgently needed laptops to study, search for employment or stay connected with family or friends.
The initiative was facilitated by organisations in the Grand Canal area including Trinity College Dublin, Google, Facebook, McCann FitzGerald, Matheson, CHQ, Ancestry, Dublin Port, Waterways Ireland and National College of Ireland.
Applications were managed through 5 local community organisations – St Andrew’s Resource Centre, Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre, Swan Youth, Ringsend Community Services Forum and the National College of Ireland’s Early Learning Initiative. Recipients collected their laptops from Unit 18, Trinity’s new community space at the college’s Grand Canal Campus.
One female recipient of a laptop in the area said, “It truly was amazing to receive one as I now can go ahead and proceed with further training that is available to me as I currently work on a payroll/ admin CE scheme. It will also be of great benefit to my daughter for school work.”
Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, Trinity’s Chief Innovation Officer said, “This is just the beginning for the Grand Canal Innovation District for what we hope will be the delivery of many meaningful and effective programmes and relationships with local residents, working together with neighbouring organisations, both voluntary and corporate. We want to ensure that all residents benefit from, and are an integral part of the innovation district.”
Dr Josephine Bleach, Director of the Early Learning Initiative at National College of Ireland, says: "We are delighted to be involved with this project. It aligns so well with our long-term commitment to addressing the educational and digital literacy divide in the area, and ensuring that children, young people and families in Dublin’s Inner City have the necessary skills and tools to thrive during a pandemic, to achieve their educational, career and life dreams. All our programme are now being delivered virtually, in real time, to 1,500+ families, with another 4,000+ involved through social media. Engagement has never been higher, with our local Home Visitors keeping children and families connected, learning, and healthy in mind, body and spirit."