HP and Microsoft are partners in business and in ‘good’. We are proud to collectively support the Ukrainian people as well as the fantastic organizations serving them, including Junior Achievement, USAID, the Tent Partnership for Refugees, UNICEF, and Osvitoria, to name a few. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of the Ukrainian authorities. We know the long-term viability of these efforts requires the support of the government and policy makers, and we are thankful to the Ukrainian government for prioritizing digital equity for their people.
What was key to implementing such a large program?
This partnership required an all-hands-on-deck approach: understanding the problem, determining what unique solutions we can offer, and identifying which partners can help scale the effort. We also had to overcome the logistical challenges of shipping tens of thousands of devices, from all over the world, to partners that are poised to accelerate digital equity in a way that is measurable, transparent, and accountable. It’s truly taken a village and we have a strong one here in our partners like GBC-Education, Microsoft, the Ukrainian government, and the recipient organizations.
For programs like this, corporations also need to look beyond the business imperative and tune into the moral one as well. We see this partnership as an opportunity to lead by example and show that refugees and displaced populations are not to be painted as ‘passive victims’ – they are individuals whose lives have been disrupted, but who have skills, dreams, and ambitions that can be put to good use. We hope this work accelerates their achievements and inspires other companies to provide support.
Why did you choose to partner with GBC-Education?
HP has worked with GBC-Education for over 10 years. GBC-Education has experience working with organizations that support education on the ground and understands how companies’ social impact programs operate. In this case, GBC-Education helped identify organizations providing support and services to students and teachers. Together we were able to support thousands of teachers across the U.S. during COVID, and we continue to partner with them in highly complex situations. This reflects our firm belief in creating a holistic ecosystem with partners in the spirit of the SDGs and Goal #17 – Partnership – rather than stopping at one-off device donations.