Idaho Business for Education (IBE) and its 242 members are committed to creating a highly educated and skilled workforce. Earlier this month, IBE announced a statewide initiative called the Community Activation Project to help students continue their learning while school buildings across Idaho are closed.
The $100,000 donation from the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, D.C. will be used by IBE to provide Internet connectivity in low-income communities throughout Idaho via centrally located hot spots and computers donated to students.
Qatar’s Ambassador to the United States, Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani, stated: “The Qatari-U.S. relationship, for the past decade, transformed from a bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, in various fields, such as defense, economic, culture and education. Within this strategic partnership, Qatar has become one of the most reliable partners in the region. Qatar shares with Idaho and IBE a commitment to human potential, working to create resilient, knowledge-based economies with an emphasis on education, openness, and opportunity for all. We are pleased to offer our support to give parents, students, and teachers the tools they need to close the digital divide and offer high-quality education at-home during this unprecedented time.”
Senator James Risch of Idaho stated, "The Qatari-U.S. relationship is one marked by shared values and strong bilateral cooperation, whether it be in the security or economic sphere. That is especially true today, as the United States and Qatar work together to address the spread of this global pandemic. In a testament to the strength of our partnership, the Government of Qatar has announced a generous donation to help support the people, and particularly the students, of Idaho. All Idahoans have had their lives disrupted by COVID-19, including students and teachers in every corner of our state. This donation from Qatar will play a vital role in helping our students and teachers stay connected as they continue learning and educating from home. On behalf of the people of Idaho, I send our gratitude to the people of Qatar."
Rod Gramer, IBE President and CEO, said, “I want to thank Qatar for its generous donation to our Internet for Students Emergency Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation. When the coronavirus forced Idaho to close its schools, thousands of students were left at home without computers or internet service. Without these tools, it is very difficult for these students to continue their education. Thanks to the generosity of Qatar our emergency fund can provide these vital learning tools to our students who need them.”
The goal of this project is to facilitate online learning for all Idaho students by getting devices into the hands of thousands of students who do not have them and providing connectivity to those students who cannot access the Internet at home.
Distance learning is new for most Idaho families, and for many in our communities, it brings challenges. There is an urgent need to ensure that all Idaho students have the resources and support they need to continue their education outside the classroom.