Following through on a promise made at the inauguration of the program, Samsung plans to contribute $1.05 million this year to organizations in Southeast Asia and Australia.
This year, Samsung DigitAll Hope focuses on enriching lives with technology in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Samsung DigitAll Hope will continue to contribute funding to initiatives that help youth achieve their dream of a better life for themselves and their communities by using technology to bridge the digital divide.
"Samsung DigitAll Hope is given impetus by our commitment to invest in the communities where we operate," said Sang-Jin Park, chief executive officer and president of Samsung Asia-Pacific.
"At the same time, we have a deep-rooted belief that technology is an increasingly important tool of progress. It has the power to enhance and transform the lives of everyone, so we can all look forward to a brighter social and economic future," Sang-Jin added.
Last year, Samsung DigitAll Hope provided total funding of $600,000 to 15 organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Philippines, a $45,000 grant was awarded to the Don Bosco Training Center for its proposal to put up an e-learning laboratory for the computer education of underprivileged youth. The facility, named the "Samsung e-lab," was inaugurated last March.
Samsung has invited key individuals to form independent judging committees on the national and regional levels to evaluate submissions.
This year’s regional panel includes newly elected Sen. Pia Cayetano; Minister of State Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, of the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore; Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong, president of the National Science and Technology Development Agency of Thailand; and Dr. H. Ariel Rachman, executive chairman of the Indonesian Counsel for UNESCO.
Charities, non-government organizations and educational institutions will be invited to apply for monetary or product grants to support ongoing projects or new projects aimed at improving lives through the use of technology, thus bridging the digital divide.
Submissions will be evaluated first on the national level by a panel of local judges with relevant expertise, including educator Preciosa Soliven.
Each country’s shortlisted entries will go on to a final round of judging by the regional committee, which will base its selection of a pre-established set of criteria.
These criteria include the expected impact on the quality of lives, sustainability to provide long-term benefits, feasibility and responsiveness to meeting target groups’ identified needs, and creativity and innovation in the use of technology to develop better lives.
The closing date for submissions is Aug. 20. Winning recipients of Samsung DigitAll Hope 2004 will be announced in October.