1Konek : 1K Devices for 1K Students

WHAT IS 1KONEK TEAM?

We are a group of individuals, mostly online freelancers, that organizes crowdfunding for Ilonggo students in need of Internet connection.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

We want Ilonggo students to have access to the internet as they continue their studies off school campuses — preferably at home or other areas where they can keep themselves safe from Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).

When Covid-19 spread in the Philippines, everything was affected. The economy, transportation, and the EDUCATION sector were among the hardest hit.

The education sector in particular was caught off guard. Students were suddenly required to turn to the internet for class instruction and submission of requirements.

But it’s not the same for everyone — some students suffered from poor signal, while others were unable to buy sufficient data allocation. Still others did not have a computer or internet-capable mobile device to work with at all.

They need help.

To ensure the safety of students, faculty members, and staff, education institutions all over the world have started holding classes remotely as part of their “flexible learning framework.”

But students we spoke to said they plan to stop schooling for the meantime that they don’t have the resources needed for online learning.

Without support, whether from the government or the private sector, dropping out will seem to be a sound decision for resource-challenged students — regardless of their willingness and drive to stay in school.

We don’t want this to happen.

WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS PROJECT?

In the first quarter of the project, we intend to support select students in the city and province of Iloilo having difficulty connecting to the internet due to the lack of financial and material (i.e., modems or other internet-capable mobile devices) resources.

When the project grows and gathers sufficient resources, we intend to expand our support to similar students in other parts of the Philippines.