The investment is estimated to reach 16 million learners by 2025, and will see programmes delivered in partnership with charities and NGOs enabling people to develop their knowledge in digital technologies.
The €20m investment will be spread over the next five years in addition to the estimated €150m of in-kind donations from Vodafone Group to a range of Covid-19 related initiatives, and a €10m investment from Vodafone Foundation in the emergency phase of the Covid-19 response in 2020.
“Vodafone is proud to support the critical development of digital skills and education in the communities we serve through our expertise in connectivity and technology,” said Nick Read, CEO, Vodafone Group. “We remain committed, in an ever increasingly digital world, to building inclusive digital societies where nobody is left behind, which matters now more than ever as society aims to build back better following the impact of Covid-19.”
In addition to investing in programmes for primary and secondary learners, combining face-to-face training and digital platforms to upskill students and teachers, Vodafone Foundation is also working to increase digital competencies for the elderly. The proportion of 65-74 year olds with no internet access is said to range from 13 to 16 per cent in Ireland, Luxembourg and Czech Republic, and Vodafone has announced its aim to support 880,000 seniors in these countries by 2025.