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May 06, 2020 In Italy affected by the Covid emergency, children and young people do not all have the same chance to connect to the internet to follow the distance lessons organized by their institutions. In fact, a third of Italian families do not have PCs or tablets at home, a percentage that exceeds 41% in southern Italy, according to the latest Istat data.Hence the idea of Stefano Guerrera, influencer and author and of the format If the paintings could speak, which on Sunday 3 May animated "Four hours against COVID", the first charity marathon in Italy on Instagram, live from his profile followed by over 180,000 people.
The initiative, carried out in collaboration with WILLY THE WHALE, allowed to collect over 12,000 euros that Oxfam will use to buy tablets and PCs to donate to children and young people, who until today have not been able to follow the online lessons. The devices will in fact be intended for Italian and foreign families in greater difficulty, who will be identified together with the primary and secondary schools with which Oxfam is already working with inclusive teaching projects to combat early school leaving.
“Covid affects everyone but not in the same way. The school reacts and continues with distance teaching, but children who do not have a PC at home risk dropping out. Involving friends to bridge educational and social inequality seemed natural and necessary to me. - said Stefano Guerrera - Sunday with the make up artist Manuele Mameli, the model Paola Turani, the influencers Giulia Valentina, Paolo Stella and Trash Italiano, the entrepreneur Cristina Fogazzi better known as the Beautician Cinica, the young popularizer Imen Jane, and singer Francesca Michielin, we raised funds that will help many kids to keep up with digital teaching. During the live Instagram we also highlighted the countless difficulties of internet access for many families. I'd like to involve a telephone provider to support this project. "
Oxfam's commitment to schools
In such a dramatic moment - as part of its Covid emergency response plan in Italy - Oxfam works with students and teachers to combat educational dispersion and poverty by helping especially boys and girls who they do not have PCs or other devices at home to follow online lessons. Programs in support of teachers continue and are strengthened with updated tools and materials adapted to the emergency phase, so that all children, even the most fragile, can stay in virtual classes or take advantage of individualized courses. For this reason, on the Oxfam Italia Global Citizenship Education platform, Oxfam Edu, we are making new materials available to all teachers who want to use them. For info: http://www.oxfamedu.it/category/risorse-didattiche/
"We sincerely thank Stefano, all the artists who participated, all the people who have donated to help those who are no longer going to school, not even to distance. The coronavirus is also the virus of inequality, which unfortunately affects even more children today at risk of early abandonment in many "suburbs" of our cities - added Alessandro Bechini, director of Programs in Italy of Oxfam - Thanks to this beautiful initiative we could actually follow up on our commitment to more inclusive teaching. But we don't stop there. In fact, four hours against Covid will continue on social media and with a fundraiser on our site with the aim of bridging the digital divide more and more. "
Oxfam's answer can be supported on https://www.oxfamitalia.org/4orecontroilcovid/