IBM, client donate learning kiosks to Pasay schools

MANILA, Philippines - International Business Machines (IBM) Philippines, in collaboration with the IT Interaction Philippines (ITIP), an IBM user organization, recently donated IBM KidSmart Early Learning Program kiosks to public schools in Pasay City, namely Kalayaan Elementary School, Timoteo Paez Elementary School and Villamor Airbase Elementary School. The teacher training sessions will follow after the elections in May.

Volunteers from IBM and ITIP officers became teachers for a day using KidSmart as an interactive and fun platform to get the kids interested in Science, Math, English and Social Studies. This is part of IBM’s approach to corporate citizenship and social responsibility, wherein IBM engages its clients and strategic partners to apply technology and expertise to help solve societal problems.

The IBM KidSmart Early Learning Program aims to raise the bar on overall student achievement and to bridge the “digital divide” that separates people who have from those who do not have access to technology. It integrates new interactive teaching and learning activities using the latest technology into the pre-kindergarten curricula.

The program includes the Young Explorer, a computer housed in brightly colored, kid-friendly Little Tikes furniture and equipped with award-winning educational software to help children learn and explore concepts in math, science and language.

The computer centers can also help children learn important socialization skills such as how to work together and share. Exploration and socialization skills are important to prepare children for future success in school, help level the playing field and ensure all children have access to educational tools.

Since its inception in 1999, over 300 KidSmart units have already been donated, benefiting approximately more than a million children from remote to underprivileged areas of towns and cities across the Philippines.

IT Interaction Philippines (ITIP) is an IBM User organization and is a result of the merger of Philippine Share Guide (PS/G), the IBM Enterprise Users Group and Genesys, and the IBM Mid-range Users Group. It was officially incorporated on March 24, 2004 as a non-stock, non-profit group run by its members for their mutual benefit.

As a combined group, it is not only more attuned with the latest developments in IT but also a stronger organization, to have a louder voice and greater visibility in the IT community, and to optimize support from IBM.