“Navigating the World” in over 100 remote islands schools by COSMOTE

COSMOTE presented the new programme, part of its Corporate Responsibility actions, “Navigating the World” for remote schools in remote Greek islands areas, at a special event held at the Lesvos Polichnitos Primary School.

Through the “Navigating the World” programme, COSMOTE installs technology equipment in schools (screen, central computer unit, Wi-Fi router, multifunction machine and web camera) to offer students and teachers free wireless broadband Internet access at high speeds. For that reason the company upgrades its telecommunications network in those specific areas, bringing multiple benefits not only to students and teachers but indirectly, to residents too.

This effort is also supported by the University of the Aegean, which has undertaken the development of a special online portal to enhance the educational process and which is expected to become the point of development on new technologies knowledge for every school.

The programme was first launched at the Iraklia remote area and will be implemented by the end of 2010 in a total of 13 schools in Lesvos and the Environmental Education Centre of Asomatos, as well as in Anafi and Kythnos islands. In 2011, “Navigating the World” will be expanded to the rest of the Greek islands, and specifically in remote areas of the North Aegean, the Dodecanese, Cyclades and Crete. The programme aims to cover more than 100 schools in remote island areas of the country.

COSMOTE Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs Marilena Fatsea, speaking at the event in Lesvos, stressed the need for eliminating the inequalities that currently exist between urban and remote rural areas: “The way to access knowledge is changing and wireless broadband services constitute a basic tool for its acquisition. We must realise that technology is a social good, in which everyone has a right, as it offers new opportunities for development and better quality of life. Through its new programme ‘Navigating the World’, COSMOTE promotes once again technology’s social dimension and the ways in which it can be used in our country’s modern educational process.”

In the event was read the greeting of Assistant Minister of Environment, Energy and Climatic Change, Mr Nikos Sifounakis while it was attended by the Secretary General of the Aegean and Island Policy, Mr. Dimitris Halkiotis, the Associate Professor of the Pedagogic Department of Primary Education of the University of the Aegean, Mr. Konstantinos Tsolakidis and the Head of Information and Awareness Action of the Greek Awareness Centre saferinternet.gr, Mrs. Veronica Samara. The local community was represented by the Polichnitos Mayor, Mr. Ioannis Sikas, teachers, pupils and parents. During the live presentation of the programme’s operating capabilities, a live Internet connection between the Polichnitos Primary School and the Iraklia School was successfully established.