Free computers for Syrian refugee families
As part of the Government of Canada’s #WelcomeRefugees project, OPEQ (Computers for Quebec Schools) was the organization chosen to join Syrian families who settled in Quebec.
End of the #WelcomeRefugees Program
We are proud to announce that, as of November 23, 2016, we have exceeded the target we set for ourselves: to hand 1500 computers to 1,500 Syrian families who arrived in Quebec since December 1, 2015.
All OPEQ workshop technicians are proud to have helped to welcome and integrate families who have arrived in Quebec in a difficult context.
We hope that receiving a computer has been a great help in integrating into Quebec society and that you are happy to be a member of our community.
Good luck!
OPEQ Team
Picture taken at the OPEQ workshop of Montréal during the delivery of the 1400th computer.
The OPE program is partly funded by the Government of Canada.
The Computers for Schools Program will facilitate the integration of refugees into Canada
The Government of Canada is financing to facilitate the distribution of computers to Syrian refugees.
The minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, announced today that 7,500 refurbished computers would be distributed to Syrian refugees in Canada. These computers will be distributed by resettlement agencies, with the help of Computers for Success Canada — Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canada (CFSC-OPEC), as a part of the Computers for Computers for Schools (CFS) Program. Digital skills training will also be provided by CFS program partners.
As a part of the CFS Program, commercial computer equipment is refurbished, then redistributed at low or no cost to people who otherwise couldn’t get access to technologies nor learn digital skills.
The CFS Program receives one-time grant of $ 1.25 million in order to facilitate the distribution of these computers and the providing technical support to Syrian refugees and resettlement agencies.
The CFS Program is proud to cooperate with national partners from multiple sectors to provide a set of complementary services to the beneficiaries.
The partnership with Microsoft, MediaSmarts, CN, CIBC, Facebook and Canada Research Chair in Sociocultural Issues of Digital Technologies in Education will make it possible to allocate more material and provide more comprehensive services, which will benefit refugees.
Quotes
“Economic growth in the modern economy depends on our ability to adapt, adopt and integrate digital technologies on a daily basis, both at work and at home. Investments in the Computers for Schools Program will facilitate the distribution of computers and the provision of technical support services to refugee-hosting organizations and communities and to refugees themselves. I am proud that the government is making this investment because it is an important step in the integration of refugees into Canadian life.”
— The minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Honourable Navdeep Bains
“We could not have reached the goal of hosting 25,000 Syrian refugees without everyone’s help. Significant national efforts have been made by various levels of government, non-governmental organizations, service delivery organizations and the private sector. I am very pleased that Computers for Success Canada – Computers for Excellence Canada is contributing in this way to the national effort. Access to technology and skills development is critical to the successful integration of Syrian refugees, as computer literacy is crucial today.”
— The minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Honourable John McCallum
“Computers for Success Canada — Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canada Canada is proud to coordinate this unique initiative of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to provide Canadians with better access to technology and opportunities to learn new digital skills. We are also proud to help Syrian refugees integrate into the country and grow the economy. We are pleased to acknowledge the work of our partners, including Microsoft and CN, who have made significant investments in support of this project.”
— General manager, Computers for Success Canada — Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canada, Toby Harper‑Merrett
“For over a hundred years, CN has been a true pillar of the Canadian economy. Over the years, it has played an important role in helping newcomers reach their new homes across Canada. We are also long-standing partners of Computers for Success Canada — Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canad in helping to transport computers to the people who need them. We are pleased that this partnership allows us to combine these traditions as we strive to provide refugees with the tools they need to succeed in their new lives in Canada.”
— Vice President, Public and Government Affairs, CN, Paul Deegan
“As the Canada Research Chair in Sociocultural Issues of Digital Technologies in Education, I am pleased to participate in the Computers for Success Canada — Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canada initiative to provide computer equipment to refugees. In order to play an active role in today’s society, the acquisition of digital skills is essential, and this requires access to technology and the Internet. However, access to these tools is still a problem, and not all Canadians benefit from digital technologies in the same way. Initiatives to help refugees, such as the one put forward by Computers for Success Canada — Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canada, go a long way towards closing the digital divide, which will benefit all Canadians.”
— Professor and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Sociocultural Issues of Digital Technologies in Education and Director of the Interuniversity Research Center on Training and the Teaching Profession, Université of Québec, Simon Collin
“MediaSmarts is very pleased to be part of this important initiative to distribute computers to Syrian newcomers. When we welcome these new Canadians, we want to ensure that both parents and children have the tools they need to use technology safely and wisely. Inclusion has many aspects, including the ability to become familiar with Canada’s digital environment.”
— Executive Co-Director, MediaSmarts, Cathy Wing
“CIBC is committed to helping newcomers to Canada get off to a good start financially. Through our CIBC Syrian Refugee Program, we offer newcomers a two-year no-fee banking package and a credit card with no minimum income requirements or credit history. In addition, as part of our longstanding partnership with the Computers for Schools Program, we are proud to promote access to computers, which in turn helps our customers to complete their transactions and integrate into their new business. living environment in Canada.”
— Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, CIBC, Rob Assimakopoulos
“Microsoft believes that technology is a powerful tool that improves educational outcomes and opens up economic opportunities that can be seized. That’s why we are pleased to partner with Computers for Success Canada — Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canada and the Government of Canada to ensure that Syrian refugees have the tools they need to successfully integrate into Canada.”
— Director, Corporate and Legal Affairs, Microsoft Canada, Dennis Lopes
“Ensuring that everyone has access to technology is essential to building a more open and connected world. Facebook is proud to partner with Computers for Success Canada — Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canada to donate computers and training to Syrian refugees. Facebook is collaborating to promote this program to Canadians and to make available in Arabic the Digital Literacy Guide Think Before Sharing from MediaSmarts and Facebook for each refurbished computer that will be distributed.”
— Director, Public policies, Facebook Canada, Kevin Chan
Facts
- Canada has welcomed 25,000 Syrian refugees in four months and will welcome 10,000 more refugees by the end of 2016.
- The nationwide distribution of computers will be coordinated by Computers for Success Canada – Computers for Excellence Canada, a national non-profit organization providing support to the ECB Program across Canada.
- The OPE Program gives refugees increased access to computer technologies so they can develop the skills needed to succeed in the digital economy.
- The 2015 federal budget provided $ 2 million over two years to expand the OPE program to support non-profit organizations that assist new Canadians, low-income Canadians and other disadvantaged groups.
- Additional donations under the Syrian Refugee Support Program are planned across the country in the coming months.
