In December 2021, the Hungarian Red Cross and Yettel launched a program to support the digital inclusion of socially deprived people and improve their chances of participation in digitisation. Under the Digital Inclusion Fund, the Red Cross accepts applications for mobile phones, tablets, laptops and software. In 2022, the program used 32% of the amount allocated for three years handing over 90 devices to beneficiaries at a total value of HUF 16 million. Almost half of the applicants requested a laptop, nearly a third a tablet, more than 20% a mobile phone, some requested a mobile device with push buttons, and one family also received a printer.
This year, more than a third of the digital devices went to children’s homes and transitional homes for families, but a significant number of single-parent families and large families were also supported by the fund. Based on the experience of the Red Cross, it’s often a huge help for people in need to be able to connect to the digital world, whether it’s children doing their homework or adults doing online administration or just keeping in touch. Most beneficiaries did not have such devices before, and many of the applicants had no prospect of obtaining them in the medium to longer term without assistance.
The Red Cross reached out to people in need and family and child welfare services through its county branches and with the help of the Directorate-General for Social Affairs and Child Welfare. “When the program was launched, we were not able to gauge the demand, but the number of applications shows a significant need for support. Applications were accepted until September. We received applications from many new families with social difficulties. We started handing over the devices in May, but some of them will be delivered in December to be placed under the Christmas tree and make the holidays of families in need more beautiful ,” said Judit Waller-Fekete, Head of Social Support Services at the Hungarian Red Cross.
Three stories from three regions of the country
During the evaluation process, Red Cross staff encountered many heart-breaking and touching life situations. One of these is the story of Gábor, a young boy from county Zala, who is battling leukaemia and spends long periods of time in the Démétér House in Budapest and in various hospitals with his mother. With the help of the laptop he was granted in the program, he can keep in touch with his peers, do his homework and catch up with his studies at school.
Another story is of a bed-ridden man from county Szabolcs, who cannot move his limbs and is cared for by his wife. He communicates with the outside world online. To navigate his computer, he uses an “eye mouse” that keeps track of where he is looking on the screen. His previous, nearly ten-year-old computer was outdated, unable to run modern software. The fund gave him a new, modern computer.
And in county Komárom-Esztergom, a little girl with diabetes was given a smartphone that monitors her blood glucose levels and alerts her through an app if there is major deviation. The girl was previously home-schooled in first and second grade, but thanks to her smartphone she can now join her peers at school.
To ensure the sustainable financing of the fund, the organisers are still looking for donations from companies and individuals, as the more people support the program, the higher its annual budget will be, and the more people in need can be supported.
More information: https://voroskereszt.hu/digitalis-felzarkoztatasi-alap/