As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in France, significant concerns about the education of the most vulnerable youth are becoming a reality for the current school year. Break Poverty teams, supported by numerous partners, are launching an emergency initiative to tackle the digital divide and the risks of school dropout : the Digital inclusion drive operation.

Health crisis reveals inequality of opportunity among disadvantaged young people

The risk of school dropouts is growing and threatens the future of young people in France. Since March 2020, nearly one million children and adolescents, according to the Ministry of Education, have lost all contact with school. In less than a year, the health crisis has increasingly undermined students’ education. In France, 1 in 4 low-income families does not have the necessary computer equipment to meet their children’s educational needs. According to Charlotte WAMBERGUE, Project Manager: “The health crisis we are experiencing has revealed the extent of the digital divide in France.”
In France, two-thirds of students who struggle academically or drop out come from low-income backgrounds.

Digital inclusion drive program, a system deployed in response to emergencies

Given this situation, it was urgent to implement a massive mobilization to help as many disadvantaged students as quickly as possible. Initiated by Break Poverty teams and supported by the AFEV association, a key player in youth mentoring, the “Digital inclusion drive” initiative provides a computer, internet connection, and a year-long mentoring program to as many disadvantaged students at risk of dropping out as possible across France. (Watch the project presentation video). “With Digital inclusion drive operation, we want to ensure that every young person can continue their education as normally as possible and prevent many dropouts among the most vulnerable,” explains Charlotte WAMBERGUE.

In addition to shipping refurbished computers directly to students’ homes and setting up internet connections with the support of Bouygues Telecom, the mentoring program provides many young people with academic support and personalized guidance to maximize their chances of success and make up for any learning gaps accumulated since the pandemic began. The operation aims to address educational inequalities that have been exacerbated by the significant digital divide in our communities since the start of the crisis.

Encouraging results from an ongoing operation

Our teams are more committed than ever to fighting school dropouts. Since the fall, over 3,500 young people have benefited from this program, and we aim to reach 10,000 young people during the 2021-2022 school year. These young people include elementary and middle school students identified by school districts, as well as students in agricultural education, apprentices in CFA (Apprenticeship Training Centers), and young people supported by ASE (Child Welfare) or mentored by the mentoring collective.

To meet the needs of as many young people as possible and ensure the success of this operation, we have identified them throughout France. The needs are immense and urgent. Your support can make a difference in the academic and professional future of many vulnerable young people in France.

This initiative has been made possible thanks to the support and mobilization of our partners, to whom we extend our sincere thanks.

To support young people in need, click here.

Photo credits : Element5digital, Unsplash.