ATENEO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION COMPUTER DRIVE HELPS 81 SCHOLARS FOR SY 2020-21

The Ateneo Alumni Association (AAA) provided free computers and tablets to scholars for School Year 2020-2021.

AAA President Jason Cabrera said the recipients include 30 junior high school, 11 senior high school, and 40 college scholars for School Year 2020-2021. Donors had the option of giving old but still usable devices (laptops or desktops), or donating money towards the purchase of computers for the beneficiaries.

Cabrera said some of the units were brand new, but a few were “reconditioned units” – used central processing units (CPUs) given brand new casings and brand new peripherals (keyboards and monitors).

He also added that although the AAA drive had ended last August, money was still being donated and this would go towards ensuring internet connectivity for the Ateneo Junior and Senior High School scholars.

The AAA donation drive suddenly gained popularity after two Ateneo de Manila college students posted photos of their brand-new desktop computers on their social media.

This in turn was picked up by a local news site and reposted on their Facebook feed. 

Loyola Schools students Martina Salamero and Bernard Yumul submitted their photos to Rappler, both showing a desktop computer set which was provided to them by Ateneo.

Salamero and Yumul are among the 81 Ateneo students who are the recipients of the Ateneo Alumni Association’s (AAA) computer donation drive, 

The shift to online learning for School Year 2020-2021 became a problem for a number of students who did not have a proper laptop or desktop computer at home, most of them scholars. To address this, Ateneo’s different units lent devices to students, particularly scholars, who are not able to buy or have access to a laptop or a computer. 

However, the school only had a limited number of devices available. To fill the need, the AAA spearheaded the donation drive supplementing the school’s efforts.

The Alumni Association was able to provide computers to 30 junior high school, 11 senior high school, and 40 college scholars for School Year 2020-2021. 

Ateneo de Manila is grateful for the generosity of the AAA and the donors, and hopes that alumni will continue to be a valuable partner in helping scholars reach their dreams.