Twenty laptops have been generously donated to students at Coleg Gwent in a bid to boost their studies after the area’s MS Natasha Asghar met with them to discuss the issues that matter to them.
In January, students gave Natasha a presentation on the digital divide and told the South East Wales politician about how there wasn’t enough laptops at their college to meet the demand with fears some students were struggling to complete their work.
After listening to the presentation Natasha asked the students what she could do to help and was told an extra 20 laptops would make the world of difference.
Following the meeting, Natasha set herself the task to secure the additional laptops and contacted staff at Sony’s UK Technology Centre in Pencoed to see if there was anything they could do to help - and was delighted with the response.
Sony, which has a strong track record of supporting students across South Wales, jumped at the chance to help, and kindly offered to donate 20 HP laptops.
Natasha and Cecilia Fritz, Sony UK Technology Centre People Department Manager, headed to Coleg Gwent’s Torfaen Learning Zone today (May 9) to hand over the laptops.
The pair were joined by some of Coleg Gwent’s senior leadership team, teachers and students who are set to benefit from the laptops.
Patrick Seale, Head of School at Torfaen Learning Zone, said:
"Learners at Torfaen Learning Zone recently completed a project aligned with the UN's mission to improve the quality of education in Wales.
“This initiative, integral to their Welsh Baccalaureate qualification, highlighted the disparities in access to advanced digital resources.
“Collaboratively, the students devised a compelling campaign, which they presented to MS Natasha Asghar, resulting in a generous donation of 20 laptops by Sony.
“I'd like to thank Natasha Asghar MS for her support in the campaign which will provide greater accessibility to digital tools that enhance academic progress in the borough.
“Torfaen learning zone is dedicated to tertiary education with an excellent digital infrastructure that will be enhanced by this donation".
Natasha Asghar, Member of the Welsh Parliament for South East Wales said:
“After talking with students in January about the lack of laptops and knock-on impact this could have on their studies, I was determined to get involved and change that. As politicians, it’s not all about politics, but giving back to the communities we represent, however we can.
“I am incredibly grateful to Sony Europe B.V.'s UK Technology Centre for assisting me in my quest and for their generosity in donating these laptops, which will go a long way in helping current and future students at Coleg Gwent.
“My late father was a student at Coleg Gwent many years ago and he firmly believed – as do I - that digital exclusion should never be a barrier to education.
“It is imperative that students have the tools when it comes to their education, and I am delighted we were able to come together and play our part in tackling this issue.”
Cecilia Fritz, Sony UK Technology Centre People Department Senior Manager, said:
“As a company committed to supporting education and empowerment in our local community, we are delighted to donate these laptops to Coleg Gwent.
“We believe they will serve as valuable tools in fostering learning and innovation among students."
____________________________________________________________________________________
Mae 20 o liniaduron wedi cael eu rhoi yn hael i fyfyrwyr Coleg Gwent mewn ymgais i roi hwb i'w hastudiaethau ar ôl i Natasha Asghar AS gyfarfod â nhw i drafod y materion sy'n bwysig iddynt.
Ym mis Ionawr, rhoddodd myfyrwyr gyflwyniad i Natasha ar y gagendor digidol a dweud wrthi nad oedd digon o liniaduron yn eu coleg i fodloni’r galw gyda phryderon bod rhai myfyrwyr yn ei chael hi'n anodd cwblhau eu gwaith.
Ar ôl gwrando ar y cyflwyniad, gofynnodd Natasha i'r myfyrwyr beth allai hi ei wneud i helpu, a dywedwyd wrthi y byddai 20 o liniaduron ychwanegol yn gwneud y byd o wahaniaeth.
Yn dilyn y cyfarfod, penderfynodd Natasha fynd ati i sicrhau'r gliniaduron ychwanegol a chysylltu â staff yng Nghanolfan Dechnoleg Sony UK ym Mhencoed i weld a oedd unrhyw beth y gallent ei wneud i helpu - ac roedd wrth ei bodd gyda'r ymateb.
Fe wnaeth Sony, sydd â hanes cryf o gefnogi myfyrwyr ledled De Cymru, fachu ar y cyfle i helpu, a chynigiodd roi 20 o liniaduron HP i’r coleg chwarae teg.
Aeth Natasha a Cecilia Fritz, Rheolwr Adran Pobl Canolfan Dechnoleg Sony y DU, i Barth Dysgu Torfaen Coleg Gwent heddiw (9 Mai) i gyflwyno’r gliniaduron.
Fe wnaethant gyfarfod rhai o’r uwch dîm arweinyddiaeth, athrawon a myfyrwyr Coleg Gwent a fydd yn elwa ar y gliniaduron.
Meddai Patrick Seale, Pennaeth Ysgol ym Mharth Dysgu Torfaen:
"Yn ddiweddar, cwblhaodd dysgwyr ym Mharth Dysgu Torfaen brosiect sy'n cyd-fynd â chenhadaeth y Cenhedloedd Unedig i wella ansawdd addysg yng Nghymru.
"Roedd y fenter hon, sy'n rhan annatod o'u cymhwyster Bagloriaeth Cymru, yn amlygu'r gwahaniaethau o ran mynediad at adnoddau digidol uwch.
"Ar y cyd, lluniodd y myfyrwyr ymgyrch gymhellol, a gyflwynwyd i Natasha Asghar AS, gan arwain at rodd hael o 20 gliniadur gan Sony.
"Hoffwn ddiolch i Natasha Asghar AS am ei chefnogaeth yn yr ymgyrch a fydd yn cynnig mwy o fynediad at offer digidol sy'n gwella cynnydd academaidd yn y fwrdeistref.
"Mae parth dysgu Torfaen wedi ymroi i addysg drydyddol gyda seilwaith digidol rhagorol a fydd yn cael ei wella gan y rhodd hon".
Meddai Natasha Asghar, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Ddwyrain De Cymru:
"Ar ôl siarad â myfyrwyr ym mis Ionawr am y diffyg gliniaduron a'r sgil-effaith y gallai hyn ei chael ar eu hastudiaethau, roeddwn i'n benderfynol o gyfrannu a newid hynny. Fel gwleidyddion, nid gwleidyddiaeth yw popeth, ond rhoi yn ôl i'r cymunedau rydyn ni’n eu cynrychioli, sut bynnag y gallwn.
"Rwy'n hynod ddiolchgar i Ganolfan Technoleg Sony Europe B.V. y DU am fy nghynorthwyo ac am eu haelioni wrth roi'r gliniaduron hyn, a fydd yn mynd yn bell i helpu myfyrwyr heddiw ac yfory yng Ngholeg Gwent.
"Roedd fy niweddar dad yn fyfyriwr yng Ngholeg Gwent flynyddoedd lawer yn ôl ac roedd yn credu'n gryf - fel yr ydw i - na ddylai allgau digidol fyth fod yn rhwystr i addysg.
"Mae'n hanfodol bod gan fyfyrwyr yr adnoddau o ran eu haddysg, ac rwy'n falch iawn ein bod wedi gallu dod at ein gilydd a gwneud rhywbeth i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn."
Meddai Cecilia Fritz, Uwch Reolwr Adran Pobl Canolfan Dechnoleg Sony y DU:
"Fel cwmni sydd wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi addysg a grymuso yn ein cymuned leol, rydyn ni’n falch iawn o roi'r gliniaduron hyn i Goleg Gwent.
"Credwn y byddan nhw’n gwasanaethu fel adnoddau gwerthfawr wrth feithrin dysgu ac arloesi ymhlith myfyrwyr."
