At least 28 learners who belong to the indigent families here are the latest beneficiaries of a “share-a-spare” donation drive which aims to help poor students with limited gadgets for online learning.

In a simple turn-over ceremony at the Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades (INCAT) on Friday, 10-year-old Ashley Bernardo, a Grade 5 pupil from Vira Elementary School (VES), said she is excited to use her new smartphone donated by Laoag Vertext Handyphones Corporation.

“Thank you to the generous giver. Now, I have a cellphone to connect with my teachers and classmates,” she said in an interview during the turnover.

Bernardo was accompanied by her grandmother in receiving the smartphone, the very first gadget Ashley has ever had in her lifetime.

Ashley lost her father at a young age and her mother who is unemployed has to make way for her siblings to live.

Since July, the Schools Division of Laoag has been collecting ICT (Information and Communication Technology) gadgets, equipment, and devices from various donors.

During the launch, the project was able to collect seven smartphones and two tablets.

The VES and INCAT were able to request 10 smartphones from their stakeholders while the Ilocos Norte Debate Union also gave a brand new tablet.

The Zonta Club of Ilocos Norte also gave nine brand new tablets to learners from various schools in the city.

Schools Division Superintendent Vilma Eda said the donation drive continues until all the intended recipients will have gadgets to use for online learning. (PNA)