Over the past few weeks, we have been working with hospitals, schools and community organizations around the world to provide $5 million in Amazon Devices to help those impacted by COVID-19. In Europe, patients in hospitals and care homes are using our tablets to stay in touch with their families. Teachers and schools are using our tablets and Kindle devices to help students continue learning while schools are closed. Community organizations are helping people in isolation by using our devices to provide entertainment and the ability to connect with loved ones.
We’re inspired by these organisations, and how they worked so quickly to solve new challenges they are facing. Here are some of the ways they are using our devices for good:
Hephata Diakonie, an organization in Germany which helps people with special needs is distributing Fire 7 tablets to residents in elderly facilities so they can stay informed and connected to friends and family. In their words: “Social distancing is difficult to bear, especially for people with disabilities, but also for children in our youth welfare living groups and for senior citizens in need of care in our elderly care facilities. The tablets provided by Amazon make an important contribution to turning social distancing into physical distancing. Now we are able to provide people with a chance to at least stay in touch with their relatives digitally.”
Teach First, a UK charity that makes sure children from disadvantaged backgrounds get a fair education, is providing Fire HD 8 tablets to students who do not have access to devices like tablets or laptops so they can keep up to date with their school work and stay in touch with their teachers. In their words:
Social distancing is difficult to bear, especially for people with disabilities, but also for children in our youth welfare living groups and for senior citizens in need of care in our elderly care facilities. The tablets provided by Amazon make an important contribution to turning social distancing into physical distancing. Now we are able to provide people with a chance to at least stay in touch with their relatives digitally.
La Fondation des Hôpitaux de Paris – Hôpitaux de France, in partnership with the Boulanger Foundation is providing Fire 7 and Fire HD 8 tablets to those who need them in hospitals and nursing homes. They told us: “The tablets have met a real need. The retirement homes and hospitals are using the tablets to keep and recreate the link with families and therefore contribute to feel better. We thank you very sincerely for your support”
Save the Children Italy is providing Fire HD 8 tablets to schools and disadvantaged families to allow children stay up to date with their school work. They said: “Amazon’s precious support will allow us to concretely help those students who didn’t have access to proper IT equipment and were unable to continue with their school lessons.”
Fundacio Comtal, a not for profit organisation that helps vulnerable young people, is delivering Fire 7 tablets in Spain. In their words: “It is thanks to the support of all the companies, organizations and people who believe in the work we do and who contribute that we can continue accompanying children and young people to help them rewrite their future.
To these heroes, we say thank you – for showing up for your communities, for teaching our children and so much more. We are humbled by your work and are proud to do our small part to support you and our shared communities during this time.
