This week, Unicamp received the donation of 30 laptops from Matera, a daughter company of the University that develops digital systems for the financial market. The equipment will contribute to the Digital Inclusion Program for Unicamp Newcomers (PIDIU) and the Solidarity Equipment campaign and will be sent to University students in socially vulnerable situations, who need support to maintain remote teaching. This year, the entire process of requesting, monitoring and subsequently returning equipment provided to students will be centralized on the Digital Inclusion - Unicamp website. Campaigns also include action SocialComp, a complementary initiative organized by the Institute of Computing (IC).
Created in 1987 by five Unicamp students, Matera includes among its values the promotion of actions that contribute to the improvement of education. "We are facing a global health and economic crisis. More than ever, we need to join forces and make this difficult time something good for society, which is why Matera joined Unicamp in donating notebooks to needy students so they can continue with their studies. According to the words of one of Matera's partners and former Unicamp student, 'there always comes a time to return what we received', and now the opportunity has arrived!", explains Denise Castilho, Environmental, Social and Governance Manager ( ESG) from Matera.
The donation made by Matera joins other contributions from individuals and companies to Unicamp's actions to collect equipment used to benefit students in vulnerable situations. To increase the number of contributions, the Computing Institute runs a complementary campaign to the University's central action, called CompSocial. Created by IC professor, Anderson Rocha, and his wife, Ana Dias, the action aims to get in touch with individuals and legal entities, such as former students and Unicamp daughter companies, who can contribute by donating laptops , tablets and/or computers, and financial resources, which will be used to purchase tablets for students in vulnerable situations.
"This donation from Matera is extremely important. So far we have collected around 80 pieces of equipment, with this donation from Matera we reached 110. But we are still far from our goal, which is at least 500 pieces of equipment, as we have many students in vulnerable situations who need this support", comments Anderson Rocha. He explains that all proceeds will make up the amount of equipment for the Solidarity Equipment campaign and PIDIU.
Individuals and companies can contribute to the campaign organized by IC. To donate equipment, simply fill out a form available using this link. For financial donations, the form is available at this address. It is also possible to contact the teacher directly by email anderson.rocha@unicamp.br.
"After a year, we learned a lot"
Unicamp's initiative to make internet access equipment and chips available to socially vulnerable students began in 2020. With the need to maintain undergraduate and postgraduate activities still in a remote format, due to the coronavirus pandemic situation, this beginning of the new academic year, the campaign was resumed to help more students, including those who entered the University in 2021.
"It was clear to all Volunteers at the Human Rights Observatory (PLHIV) how strategic this small support program for remote academic activities can be to maintain, expand and strengthen a policy assumed with great conviction by the university: our inclusion policy", analyzes Josianne Cerasoli, coordinator of the ODH, a body linked to the Executive Board of Human Rights (DEDH) at Unicamp responsible for the campaign logistics.
According to the teacher, last year it was possible to respond to more than a thousand requests for equipment loans. To improve this attention to students, this year the program is organized on two fronts, one aimed at serving freshmen with a social profile that already indicates the need for support and the other to continue serving students already enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. -graduation.
Attention to vulnerable freshmen will occur through the Digital Inclusion Program for Unicamp Freshmen (PIDIU), launched in February. It is intended for new students covered by Student Support Service (SAE) scholarships, according to their classification in the selection process, and for students admitted through the Higher Interdisciplinary Training Program (ProFIS). Other students at the University can benefit from the Solidarity Equipment program.
All registrations, monitoring of requests, scheduling of withdrawals and returns will be centralized on the Digital Inclusion - Unicamp page (inclusaodigital.ic.unicamp.br). Here, students must register with their RA number and follow the instructions on the page.
Josianne also reminds us that it is possible to contribute with donations of used equipment and return equipment already borrowed in 2020 that will not be used in 2021. "Students who received support in 2020 and have already graduated or needed to suspend their enrollment can return the equipment and chips to us we can support other students. We are currently checking active enrollments and seeking contacts with these 'new supporters'", he comments. In this case, you must contact us via email at voluntariado@dedh.unicamp.br to schedule delivery.
