“Surf into the World”
, the new COSMOTE programme for schools located in remote regions of the Greek islands, made a stop last week in Crete and specifically at five schools of the Municipality of Sfakia in the peripheral unit of Chania, offering free access to the internet to more than 50 pupils.Through this programme which is part of COSMOTE Corporate Responsibility actions, the company installs technical infrastructure (monitor, CPU, Wi-Fi router, multifunctional device, & web camera) at schools and offers pupils and teachers free wireless access to the Internet at high speeds. In the same context, the company is upgrading its network in the respective areas, bringing multiple benefits not only to the pupils and teachers but also indirectly to the locals. The programme was initiated in November 2010 when it was first implemented in the island of Lesvos. Having passed in the meantime through the islands of Anafi, Kythnos, Ikaria, Samos, Fournoi, and Tzia, it has installed wireless internet at more than 25 schools and enabled more than 1,000 pupils to become part of the new “digital era”. The programme aims to reach every far-flung region of Greece.
At a special event held in cooperation with the Municipality of Sfakia at the village of Askyfou, COSMOTE donated technical equipment to the Primary and Secondary school of the village Chora of Sfakia, to the Primary school and the Cultural Centre of Anopoli village and to the Primary schools of Askyfou and Vouves villages, opening up new possibilities for the education of pupils in the region.
“The way of access to knowledge evolves and wireless broadband services constitute an essential tool to secure it. We have to realise that technology is a social good, to which everyone is entitled, as it offers new opportunities for development and better quality of life. COSMOTE, through its ‘World Navigation’ programme brings yet again to the fore the technology social dimension and the way it can also be utilised as part of the educational process in our country”, Ms Marilena Fatsea, Director of Corporate Affairs, ERM & BCM of COSMOTE, stated at the event.
Of particular significance was also the donation of fifty laptop computers to pupils of the Municipality of Sfakia by Mr Michalis Bletsas, Research Scientist, Director of Computing at the MIT Media Lab, and member of the Board of Directors of OTE. Specifically, on the occasion of the distinction he had received by a multinational corporation for his contribution to research and education, Mr Bletsas offered the monetary award as a donation for the provision of laptop computers, offering pupils in the region a valuable tool.
“Laptops are the weapons of the new generation that wins ‘wars of ideas’ and we are very pleased that at such a difficult time for the countrry we are in position to offer to every pupil in the area a laptop, so that through COSMOTE’s advanced network each child can access the new technology and the new digital era”, stated Mr. Bletsas, who honoured the event with his presence.
Mr Bletsas was presented with an award by the Mayor of Sfakia Mr Pavlos Pollakis, who thanked COSMOTE for its important offer to the region through its “World Navigation” programme and stressed, “Our children in Sfakia as well, should be in a position to experience the advantages offered by technology and any possibilities it can offer already during their school age.”