World Day of Social Justice is observed every year on the 20th of February. Created by the UN in 2009, it is an internationally recognised day dedicated to bringing awareness to issues around the world related to inequality and injustice.
The former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has stated that “the gap between the poorest and the wealthiest around the world is wide and growing.”. The issues that are causing this gap stem from gender equality, income inequality, racism and many other places. The purpose of this day is to draw attention to these issues in the hopes of working together to resolve them.
This year’s theme is “A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy”. The last two years of disruption caused by the pandemic have shown that we are relying more and more on the digital world. Scotland are not alone in adapting to the situation by transferring to a culture of hybrid working where there is a heavy reliance on technology and digital skills.
The pandemic has laid bare the inequalities that exist across the digital world. The issues range from lack of access to appropriate technology, lack of skills and training as well as a lack of access to the internet.
This inequality is not limited to the workplace. Although now back in the classroom, our student population (both at school and in higher education) were relegated to ‘Zoom class’ at the kitchen table throughout the pandemic. This has led to a difficult couple of years within education as teaching staff have had to juggle each student’s differing access to the required technology which has led to some students falling behind.
So why are we telling you this and how can you help?
A simple way to help close to home is to get in touch with your local MP or MSP. Ask them what they are doing to ensure funding to your area for technology in schools so that no students are left behind due to a lack of access to the required equipment.
Or, take a look around your house and see if you have any old devices that you longer have a use for. “People Know How” are an Edinburgh based organisation who will take donations of old technology. They’ll reset them to factory settings and distribute them to those who need them. Click here
If you want to look further afield, “Reusing It” are a West Lothian based charity who also refurbish unwanted electronics but as well as distributing them to people in need in Scotland, they also send them to Africa. Click here
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