Implementing the Project, “Closing the Homework Gap,” in New Jersey, U.S.

In the age of information, various digital devices are used in many different fields. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about the more use of digital devices in the field of education; remote learning with the help of digital devices has become the main means of education instead of the traditional face-to-face learning. However, this causes information gap between students; remote learning for the students without digital devices meant “distancing from education.”

Meanwhile, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation branch in the eastern U.S. made a plan to combat the issue by holding the “Closing the Homework Gap” project whereby they provided necessary digital devices for students to participate in remote learning. The members of the WeLoveU branch in the eastern U.S. hosted webinar to introduce the project on August 20. Webinar is a compound word of “web” and “seminar,” and refers to an online meeting.

On the day, about 500 WeLoveU members and citizens took part in the webinar. April Vauss the Superintendent of Education in Irvington, New Jersey, and Roger León the Superintendent of Education in Newark gave a speech to inform people of the issues regarding the importance of remote learning and digital divide especially in the COVID-19 pandemic era. The two cities, Irvington and Newark, are heavily impacted by the digital divide, among the cities in Essex County, New Jersey. The WeLoveU decided to help the schools in these two cities in cooperation with the Board of Education in each city.

On September 17, the WeLoveU’s digital device donation ceremony was held at Madison Avenue Elementary School. Tony Vauss the Mayor of Irvington City, April Vauss the Superintendent of Education and other education officials, WeLoveU members, and the school parents and students attended the event, strictly adhering to the COVID-19 preventative measures. On the day, the WeLoveU donated 75 laptops to Madison Avenue Elementary School. Vauss the Superintendent of Education likened the WeLoveU members who willingly helped out the students to the “salt of the earth,” and expressed gratitude to Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah.

On the 24th day, the WeLoveU members held the donation ceremony at Roberto Clemente Elementary School and donated 44 laptops and 66 tablet PCs. A handful of students, WeLoveU members, and officials, including Roger León the Superintendent of Education and Josephine C. Garcia the President of the Newark Board of Education, attended the event. It was broadcasted live online, drawing much attention from many people.

Each Board of Education of Irvington and Newark made a declaration on the day of the donation ceremony and expressed gratitude to the WeLoveU for helping all the students receive quality education by narrowing digital divide. The WeLoveU also plans to implement the project, “Closing the Homework Gap,” in Hartford City, Connecticut. The WeLoveU’s help for the underprivileged neighbors in response to social changes caused by COVID-19 becomes more diversified with time.