“The Smile of the Child” has been selected by HP Inc. and the HP Foundation

Press Release

Athens, 25 April 2025

“The Smile of the Child” has been selected by HP Inc. and the HP Foundation for the implementation of the Digital Equity Accelerator 2025 program in Greece!

The digital divide, costing $1 trillion globally, prevents billions of people from having equal access to educational and economic opportunities.

The Digital Equity Accelerator program helps nonprofits expand digital inclusion initiatives for excluded youth and adults, shaping a more equitable and inclusive future of work.

For 2025, the Digital Equity Accelerator program is being implemented in Greece, Indonesia, Nigeria and Spain with the participation of 8 nonprofit organizations.

Through the Digital Equity Accelerator, HP is working with a broad network of partners to help organizations deploy digital equity solutions at scale. As of 2022, the program has helped amplify the impact of 27 nonprofits in Brazil, Canada, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, and the United States, expanding their reach to more than 9 million people. For more information about the Digital Equity Accelerator, visit the corresponding website.

"The future of work depends on equitable access to technology, digital skills, and opportunity,” said Michele Malejki, Global Head of Social Impact, HP Inc. and Executive Director, HP Foundation.

“Through the Digital Equity Accelerator, HP is empowering nonprofits to bridge the digital divide, ensuring disconnected adolescents and adults have the tools and training needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world. By investing in these organizations, we are not just expanding access—we are powering the future of work."

“We are really proud to support the organizations “The Smile of the Child” and “Socialinnov”, two organizations that are paving the way for a fairer, digitally equal future. Through access to technology and empowerment of digital skills, they offer people from less privileged communities the opportunities, tools and confidence to develop and create. Together we can accelerate social progress and turn technology into a driver of change for all," said Nikos Christakis, Managing Director, HP Greece and Cyprus.

Through the project “ODYSSEY: A Journey to the Digital and Social World” which will be implemented in 13 regions of Greece, "The Smile of the Child" aims:

• to reduce inequalities in education
• to promote social inclusion by improving access to quality educational services by upgrading the skills of young people to acquire digital social and life skills and
• to strengthen social cohesion and socio-economic development at national level by investing in digital equipment and mobile education, IT and technology laboratories and by raising awareness of new education models among the wider community

The project's activities include a number of educational workshops and interventions on the use of the internet, digital communication, digital content creation and Artificial Intelligence.

Through the project actions, it is expected that at least 10,000 students aged 15-17 and young people aged 18-24, with a focus on those facing socio-economic difficulties, health problems, including people with disabilities, teachers, school staff and professionals working with children and young people, parents and volunteers of the Organization will receive quality educational services by acquiring digital social and life skills.