Telecommunications company StarHub is halting its 20th anniversary celebrations and donating its marketing budget of SGD 200,000 to help students from lower-income families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All primary, secondary, Pre-University and Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) students embarking on full Home-Based Learning (HBL) from April 8 to May 4, as announced by Ministry of Education (MOE).
To support students in their HBL, StarHub will be sponsoring instantaneous mobile broadband connectivity to students from lower-income families who do not have access to broadband at home. Starting with 158 primary and secondary students this week, up to 550 students will stand to benefit from this initiative.
Students identified by MOE for this initiative will receive 4G dongles or MiFi routers with unlimited worry-free data powered by StarHub. The mobile broadband devices will be distributed from Monday, April 6, onwards. The additional connectivity support, paired with school devices, will enable these students to access online learning for HBL. This initiative will last for six months, to tide over the trying circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This move is in addition to the newly created StarHub Cares COVID-19 Fund supporting initiatives that help cushion the impact on healthcare staff, patients, lower-income seniors in rental flats and lower-income households.
“2020 is a milestone year for StarHub; a time for us to express our gratitude to all our customers and employees who contributed to creating a company of reference and one of the best brands In Singapore," said StarHub’s Chief Executive, Peter Kaliaropoulos.
"At a time when individuals, businesses and the economy are facing unparalleled hardship, the right thing to do is to further support our community and donate our marketing funds set aside for our anniversary celebrations towards a very worthwhile cause.”
This latest support for students follows StarHub’s series of help measures for customers and the community impacted by COVID-19. For the more vulnerable people in the community, StarHub is disbursing funds from the newly created StarHub Cares COVID-19 Fund.
The fund comprises contributions from across the company – with StarHub Board of Directors contributing up to 10 per cent of 2019 Director fees, the StarHub Senior Leadership Team contributing up to one month of salary, and voluntary contribution from StarHub employees. StarHub is matching all contributions dollar-for-dollar.