Two schools in Galway have been gifted laptops and printers to improve their ICT (Information and Communication Technology) capabilities thanks to local fintech employer Fidelity Investments.
Students from Coláiste Mhuirlinne, Doughiska are benefiting from having received a range of high-quality computer equipment including 25 laptops and an office printer. Colaiste na Coiribe in Knocknacarra were also delighted to receive their office printer from Fidelity Investments. A further 50 laptops will be donated in the coming months to schools in the Dublin area.
Tech employees of Fidelity Investments refurbished the laptops and reformatted the hard drives before donating the equipment to schools in need of new or additional ICT resources. JA supported by selecting the schools who would be beneficiaries of this initiative.
The generous donation of equipment will make a huge impact on the ICT resources of each school, resources which are a central tool that supports teaching and learning at all stages of education and across all areas of the curriculum.
John Cleary, Principal of Coláiste Mhuirlinne, Doughiska, Galway commented on the generous donation: “Merlin College are incredibly thankful to Fidelity Investments for such an altruistic and generous educational gift to our school and students. Given the current health situation and the need for comprehensive IT equipment at home, this donation will help enhance our Digital Strategy Plan which hopes to see technology as a daily contributor to the teaching and learning of our students.”
Lorna Martyn, Head of Technology for Fidelity Investments, added: “Fidelity Investments is delighted to support these two Galway schools as part of our ongoing commitment to STEM education and giving back to our local communities.
In the current climate, the importance of accessibility to IT equipment for students cannot be underestimated. Technology is playing a key role in supporting education and learning and we hope our donations go a small way towards supporting the schools and the great work of their teachers and students. At Fidelity, we call this ‘Paying IT Forward’.”
Fidelity Investments is a long standing partner of JA and provides employee volunteers who visit schools in Dublin and Galway to deliver hands-on learning experiences that empower students to make connections between what they learn in school and how it can be applied in the real world.