The awards event included an online quiz game for 7th- and 8th-grade students of the primary schools winning in the Digital Springboard funding program announced by the Hungarian Reformed Charity Service and Telenor Hipersuli.
At the event hosted by Gábor Gundel Takács, the teams of four schools out of the five winners of the program* – the Magyarcsanádi Reformed Primary School, the Egyházasharaszti District Primary School, the Dankó Pista Educational Center of Biri and the Hernádnémeti Reformed School – competed against each other. At the informal and playful event having a real end-of-term atmosphere, Gundi asked youth about online safety. At the online quiz game, students shared their knowledge of what makes a strong password, how to reduce your digital footprint and what to consider when posting content in social media.
“During my career as a television host, I usually hosted quiz games featuring adults. Therefore, I am particularly pleased to host a playful quiz for students again”, said Gábor Gundel Takács. “Responsible internet use and online safety are relevant to all. It is important to make young people aware of this. The enthusiasm of teams participating in the game really inspired me and I’m sure that it was also a special experience for the students just before the end of the school year”, he added.
The Digital Springboard funding program was announced for primary schools with upper-grade classes located in socially, economically and infrastructurally disadvantaged towns and villages struggling with heavy unemployment. In return for committing to integrate new ways of knowledge transfer and information sharing into their education program, the schools could apply for funds of up to HUF 2 million to buy tablets and notebooks. The winning schools got a total of 37 portable computers and 16 tablets, as well as routers and SIM cards essential for running online education programs. Besides receiving the devices, winning schools can enrol their teachers in Telenor’s 30-hour accredited HiperSuli Digital Methodology Training to acquire the skills necessary for digital education. The program was also joined by the Hungarian Reformed Charity Service helping Telenor select winning schools and deliver the assets to them.
“Given our profile, we keep a close eye on communities and schools in need of help. We consider it a priority to support the use of digital devices and educational platforms as part of our charity activities. Under our Válaszút mentor program, we provide personalised assistance to students through the involvement of volunteer helpers. In line with this, we want to help schools in disadvantaged regions acquire digital education devices. We were happy to contribute to this joint project and look forward to other partnership initiatives in the future”, said Balázs Lutár, Director of the Hungarian Reformed Charity Service.
*The fifth winner of the funding program, Arany János Member Institution in Felszőszentiván of Bajai Szentistváni Primary School didn’t participate in the quiz game.