UAE Starts Second Campaign to Donate Old Devices to Students

The Digital School, which is one of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has started the second edition of its campaign called “Donate Your Own Device 2.0.” This campaign is being held in partnership with the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC). The goal of this campaign is to collect 100,000 used electronic devices. These devices will either be repaired and reused or safely recycled. After that, they will be given to poor students around the world who are part of the Digital School programme.

Combining Education, Humanity, and Sustainability

This campaign is more than just a donation drive. It is based on a complete vision that brings together three important goals — education, humanitarian service, and environmental sustainability. Devices collected from people and institutions will be processed using safe environmental methods. This will help in two ways: students will get access to education, and less electronic waste will end up polluting the environment. It is a smart way to make sure old devices are not wasted.

How to Join and Support the Campaign

The Digital School is inviting everyone in the community — individuals, companies, and institutions — to take part. You can help in different ways:

• Donate your old devices, like laptops, tablets, or smartphones.

• Send money to support the cost of repairing and transporting devices.

Use SMS to donate:

• Etisalat users can send a message to 2441.

• Du users can send a message to 3551.

A Successful First Campaign Encouraged Expansion

The first version of this campaign was launched in 2023, during the UAE’s Year of Sustainability. It aimed to collect 10,000 devices but ended up gathering over 50,000 used electronics. These came from over 100 different organisations, including government departments, private businesses, and universities. Because of this huge success, the campaign is now being turned into a permanent programme. This shows a deep commitment to education and long-term global digital support.

Reducing 200 Tonnes of Electronic Waste

The campaign is also helping the environment in a big way. The second edition plans to reduce about 200 tonnes of electronic waste. This is done by carefully refurbishing and recycling the old devices. Electronic waste is a growing global issue, and this effort supports the idea of a fair and sustainable digital future. The campaign creates partnerships between technology experts, charitable groups, and environmental agencies, working together to make a positive impact.

Vision of the UAE’s Leadership in Digital Education

Omar Sultan Al Olama, who is the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Chairman of the Digital School Board, spoke about the campaign. He said turning it into a permanent project shows the UAE’s dedication to sustainability. It also matches the vision of the country’s leaders, who believe that technology and knowledge are powerful tools to improve human lives.

He explained that the campaign is not just about giving out devices. It is part of a larger strategy to reduce the digital gap in the world. By doing so, the campaign makes education more equal and allows people from all parts of society to take part in positive and responsible action.

Making Devices into Tools for Learning

The goal is to turn old, unused electronics into useful tools for students. Many of these students live in difficult conditions, in refugee camps or poor areas where schools are not available. This campaign helps open doors to education for them. It follows the Digital School’s mission of providing inclusive, modern, and flexible learning opportunities to as many children as possible.

Emirates Red Crescent’s Full Support

Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Emirates Red Crescent, praised the campaign. He said the Digital School has changed lives by offering education to children who had no access to proper schools — especially refugees and poor communities. He confirmed the Emirates Red Crescent will continue to support the school and help increase its reach.

He added that the Digital School is a strong example of the UAE’s efforts to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 4, which is about giving quality education to everyone. The campaign shows that the UAE wants to be a leader in using education and knowledge to build a better world.

From Traditional Education to Smart Learning

The Digital School uses technology to offer digital and blended learning. It moves away from traditional classroom methods and focuses on future-ready education. This is very helpful in areas where normal schooling is not possible because of war, poverty, or disasters. The tools and methods used are simple, effective, and suitable for the future.

The campaign is not only about collecting old devices. It also raises awareness about why reusing and recycling electronics is important. It encourages people to be part of something good, both for society and the planet.

A Strong Team Behind the Campaign

This campaign is a joint effort between the Digital School, Emirates Red Crescent, and Ecyclex, a company that specializes in recycling electronic items. The campaign also receives help from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. Everyone is working together to support sustainable learning and solve the growing problem of electronic waste.

According to international studies, the world throws away around 50 million tonnes of electronic waste every year. That equals 800 laptops being thrown away every second. This campaign is a way to turn that waste into something useful, especially for students who need help.

Great Achievements from the First Campaign

The results from the first phase in 2023 were amazing. Here are some highlights:

• 50,000 devices were collected
• 120 tonnes of electronic waste were safely recycled
• 122 tonnes of carbon emissions were prevented
• 170,000 litres of fuel were saved
• 32,000 square feet of land was saved from pollution

These numbers show how a simple idea — donating an old device — can lead to huge results for both students and the environment.

Support from Leading UAE Institutions

The first campaign saw strong support from many well-known organisations in the UAE. These include:

• Dubai Police
• Dubai Municipality
• Ministry of Health and Community Prevention
• Dubai Culture and Arts Authority
• Roads and Transport Authority
• Emirates NBD
• Masdar
• American University of Sharjah
• Emirates Airlines
• DP World Charitable Foundation
• e& Group

These partners were honoured for their efforts, and they played a big role in helping poor students get digital learning opportunities.

About the Digital School

The Digital School was started in November 2020 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It is the first accredited digital school of its kind and focuses on helping underprivileged, refugee, and displaced students through technology.

So far, the Digital School has helped over 500,000 students in 33 countries. It offers lessons in Arabic, English, Spanish, French, and Kurdish, making it easy for students from different regions to benefit. The school is focused on making education available to those who need it most, in a smart, flexible, and sustainable way.