I was at this year’s Forum as the presenter for the segment introducing “Samsung Smart School”, one of the representative social contribution programs of Samsung Electronics. I spoke about my experience in working to narrow the gap of digital education through the Samsung Smart School program. I was very proud to be sharing all the work Samsung Smart School has done over the past seven years with education experts from all over the Asia-Pacific region.

I was honored to speak on behalf of the Samsung Smart School program during the Forum

Introducing Samsung Smart Schools’ Innovation Strategies

Enhancing education with technology, as it develops, could very well be the future of equal opportunity schooling. An example of such a confluence of education and technology is education that harnesses virtual reality (VR) and augmented (AR) reality to relieve space-time constraints and create classrooms that do not require students to always focus on the front, instead able to easily complete exercises using digital devices. Samsung Smart School, begun in 2012, similarly aims for such a convergence of technology and education.

Slide from Yoon’s presentation that highlights the meaning of and opportunities in Smart School

During the APEC Future Education Forum, the audience was particularly interested to hear about two of our latest cases of innovation in education from over the past year. Firstly, I spoke of how Samsung Smart School has opened its doors not only to students in isolated island and mountain regions, but also to young students in hospitals, students in multicultural schools made up of a variety of language education levels and students in institutions that support children with developmental disabilities. This program won the support of many education experts on the basis that we also develop tailored education solutions for students, understanding that there can be no ‘one size fits all’ approach because each student has their own particular needs.

The second case I introduced to Forum participants was our distinct new approach to how educators can apply for the Smart School. Over the past year, Samsung Smart School broke with the conventional application process of ‘contest -> evaluation -> acceptance’ and instead has made the process more thorough with a ‘contest -> evaluation -> “Hackathon” -> online “like” vote -> acceptance’ framework. The “Hackathon” element of this application allows teachers, engineers and designers to cooperate in getting to grips with the Samsung Smart School offering and unearth particular deficiencies in their own systems – going beyond just device and equipment support. The ‘online “like” vote’ element garnered educator and public support, providing motivation and drive to applicants in continuing their schooling innovation projects.

Introducing the 2018 Samsung Smart School programs to the audience

At the APEC Education Forum, we also outlined the blueprint for the future of Samsung Smart School. Centered around three keywords of ‘ownership’, ‘connection’ and ‘individualization’, I informed the audience of current projects that are currently in a development phase, such as the running of various job experience programs for students at Gunnae Elementary School in the South Korean border village of Paju, Gyeonggi-do.

Best Practice for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Our segment also featured a presentation from guest speaker Sang-cheol Oh, a teacher from Suwon Seokwang School in Gyeonggi-do, Korea who received Samsung Electronics’ ‘Future Teacher’ award in February of this year. Suwon Seokwang School is a school for students with intellectual disabilities which was selected for the Samsung Smart School program last year and has subsequently been supported with advanced classrooms equipped with electronic boards, tablets, PCs, VR and other devices. After working closely with Samsung Smart School for a year, Mr. Oh told the Forum’s participants about particular needs of teaching intellectually challenged students, as well as the changes that occurred in his school following the partnership with Samsung Smart School.

Teacher Sang-cheol Oh addresses the Forum

Mr. Oh’s presentation demonstrated to the audience the difficulties specific to special education. “Special education has not often been an area of attention from the wider educational circles,” he noted. “But now it is receiving more focus thanks to the processes of changing education for these children put in place by Samsung Smart School technologies. I hope Samsung Smart School can spread to more of the world so that children with developmental disabilities everywhere can experience its benefits.”

Local ensemble performances, along with other student participation programs, took place during the Forum

Creating Unity Through Education

Aside from our Samsung Smart School presentation, 16 education experts in total made presentations on the future of education at this year’s Forum. Chief Jong-hee Park of UNESCO Asia Pacific Regional Program, ICT in Education, gave a presentation on Digital Civil Education Requirements for the Age of SDG4². His main takeaway was how important it is for students to move beyond learning just how to use digital technologies and towards actively developing their creativities and capabilities with them – this particularly resonated with me and the work we do with Samsung Smart School.

Chief Jong-hee Park during her presentation on Digital Civil Education Requirements for the Age of SDG4

This year’s APEC Future Education Forum concluded with the hopeful message of working towards a harmonious tomorrow through education. It was an especially meaningful event for me as I was able to meet many experts who are striving to innovate their own education practices, such as Secretary Leonor Briones from the Department of Education of the Republic of The Philippines who is known as “the role model of Filipino Teachers”. I was impressed that the event was not about just introducing speakers but also encouraged people to mingle in the spirit of “making better education”.

I had the pleasure of speaking with representatives from Our Lady of Fatima University including Dr. Elmer Midaigo (far right)

Samsung Smart School has now been introduced to a range of global education leaders. Many of the experts I spoke to were enthusiastic about the possibilities the program has to offer; “Samsung Smart School is a program that teaches a lesson worth learning to other institutions and countries as it offers significant impact on students, teachers and society alike,” noted Dr. Luksmon Smansin from the Office of Higher Education Commission, Thailand Ministry of Education.

ICT Assistant Secretary Thomas Podarua of the Ministry of Education, Papua New Guinea gave a great comment. He said “Samsung Smart School is the best solution for regions with limitations,” noted ICT Assistant Secretary Thomas Podarua of the Ministry of Education, Papua New Guinea. “Students of such regions will be able to become parts of the global village through the program.”

Olga Hernandez Limon, consultant, Mexican Ministry of Education also enthused: “Samsung Smart School could help improving the overall course of education. If Mexico can implement Samsung Smart School, the program would receive active support.”

This year’s forum saw 250 education experts from 14 countries of the Asia-Pacific region come together

It would appear my presentation and the innovation put forward by the Samsung Smart School program over the last seven years was received well by those at the Forum. We at the Samsung Smart School team will continue to do our utmost to improve education for children of all backgrounds, no matter where they may be in the world.

*Written by Jihyun Yoon, Corporate Social Contribution Office, Samsung Electronics; translated and edited by Samsung Newsroom

¹APEC stands for the ‘Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’, an inter-governmental forum that promotes economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region

²This stands for ‘SDGs in the Fourth Industrial Revolution’. SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are a collection of the most important global goals set by the United Nations for 2016 to 2030, after the end of MDGs from 2000 to 2015. It constitutes 17 major goals and 169 targets

Summary

• Seongjin Cho, Engineer, Application Processor Group, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, has mastered a life balance that allows ample time for work, family and volunteering
• Dedicating at least one day a week to volunteer activities with children and teenagers, Cho’s hobby has seen him travel internationally in his commitment to helping others over the past two years
• Not only does this hobby provide support to young people looking to learn more about information technology, but has granted Cho empathy and understanding in both his professional and personal lives
  

Samsung Electronics’ citizenship activities take all shapes and sizes, but one thing at the heart of all the volunteer activities undertaken by over 2,000 teams worldwide is talent sharing. The success of such activities is therefore tied to the personalities, sincerity and commitment of participating employees – but above all, empathy is key.

Many of Samsung Electronics’ employees’ volunteer activities take place outside of work hours, meaning that those involved have to manage a careful balance of work, family and volunteering. One such individual to have mastered this balance is an engineer in the Mobile Communications Business, Seongjin Cho, whose dedication to giving back to society speaks for itself: “my hobby is volunteering.”

Samsung employees volunteer at the Samsung Junior Software Cup (left) and Samsung Smart School (right)

Finding Time to Help

Since joining Samsung just over three and a half years ago, Cho has been kept very busy during working hours. He is responsible for defining and verifying specifications of smartphone applications (APs) for models to be released three years down the line. “I have to think a few years ahead,” notes Cho. “I have to understand the latest trends of competitors and, as a data engineer, I am always digging through data and trying to find how to create more competitive products.”

His weekends are kept just as busy as well – Sundays are reserved for spending family time with his wife and beloved six-year-old daughter, and as of the past two years, Saturdays have become his self-professed ‘Volunteer Day’ – a commitment that he takes very seriously.

Cho’s volunteer efforts focus on educational services for children and teenagers – a cause he has thrown himself into because of his own experience. “I was a troubled kid until I stumbled upon my mentor,” admits Cho. “The influence he provided me with moved me in the right direction. I realized I wanted to convey the miracle of mentoring to other children who might need my help.”

Worldwide Volunteer

Having realized his aim in his volunteer activities, Cho began taking part in an education volunteer program for high school students near his office. Two years later and Cho now takes part in longer-term programs that see him working with mentees over extended periods of time, preferring these to one-off activities. His commitment to the cause has even taken him abroad – earlier this year, he served as Volunteer Team Leader for the Samsung Global Startup Acceleration Program in India.

His favorite programs to work on across his dedicated ‘Volunteer Days’ are those such as the Samsung Junior Software Cup and Samsung Smart School where he is able to assist beneficiaries thanks to his capabilities as a data engineer. “Last year, I delivered lectures on software for children via video livestream on social media. I had so much fun with it!” enthuses Cho.

Taking part in these programs connecting him with children from all manner of backgrounds via technology has granted Cho a unique understanding of his beneficiaries. “This year, I have been volunteering at an elementary school. I listen to what the students want and work together with them to help address their issues. It’s all very rewarding.”

Deeper Connections

Cho notes that the time he spends throwing himself into volunteer activities pays off not just for his beneficiary groups, but for his professional one, too. “I learn so much while communicating with all manner of people during volunteer activities. Talking with them has enabled me to look beyond my comfort zone,” he notes.  “Without my volunteer experience, I would have had a harder time understanding my team members and communicating with them.”

The personal growth granted to him as an individual by his tireless dedication to helping others has not gone unnoticed by Cho. “This undertaking has changed me so much from my past self, who possessed practically zero degrees of empathy,” jokes Cho. “During my volunteer work, I often meet other professionals from different fields. I have gained insight about my job that means I can look at things from a wide range of perspectives.”

While such an involved hobby might be thought to take its toll on Cho’s family life, he cites his wife as his “greatest support” for his volunteer work. He credits the time spent with his wife in which they share their goals and resolutions together as fostering this; “we rarely argue because we fully understand each other and share our schedules in advance.”

Cho with his wife and his daughter; along with his volunteering, Cho is sure to put away time each week to spend with his family

The next step in Cho’s volunteering journey is to study Social Welfare at an online university. “I am already here in the volunteering field,” muses Cho. “Like hiking, reading, or watching a movie is to others, this is my hobby.” And his goal for this esteemed hobby? “I hope to get to a place where I am sharing insights with someone as my mentor did for me, and then they go on to do wonders for someone else.” What an achievement that would be.

But fortunately, things are changing so that visually impaired people can enjoy their favorite entertainment in the comfort of their homes. Some TV stations, such as Swiss Television (SRF), already offer content with audio description for visually impaired and blind people. Furthermore, Samsung Electronics is cooperating with the Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBV) to showcase how Smart TVs can be operated easily and autonomously by visually impaired individuals.

In this interview, Secretary General Kannarath Meystre and Head of Innovation and Technology Luciano Butera of SBV explain the influence of modern technology on their everyday lives.

(left) Kannarath Meystre, Secretary General, Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBV) and Luciano Butera, Head of Innovation and Technology (SBV) sat down with Samsung Electronics to discuss the roles of modern technology in their lives

Q. How has technological progress shaped the everyday lives of visually impaired people?

Meystre: Digitization has modernized many professions that could previously be accessed easily by visually impaired or blind people. For example, the profession of the voice assistant telephone operator no longer exists. Since many visual tasks have been added to job roles, such as operating IT systems or working at reception, the employment choices for visually impaired people have become more complex. In order to show how a visually impaired person can still be a fully-fledged employee with the right tools, we educate employers and offer job coaching to employees. Of course, digitization has also simplified many things.

Butera: Exactly, new technologies always hold opportunities as well as hindrances. The introduction of smartphones is a good example: the disappearance of the keypad has made it impossible for blind and visually impaired people to use a mobile phone. But when so-called ‘screen readers’ were introduced in addition to the touch screen which read on-screen content aloud, this not only solved the problem, but suddenly offered a number of new possibilities with regard to the use of the internet and apps. To this end, we created the technology department at SBV about five years ago. One example of its innovations is with physical money. Since the tactile features of Swiss banknotes wear out over time, we have programmed an app that recognizes and indicates the value of money.

(left) Kannarath Meystre and Luciano Butera demonstrate the use of screen readers, which greatly improved access to technology for those with visual impairments

Q. Where in your everyday life are the technical barriers most noticeable?

Butera: Public transport is certainly the biggest issue. In recent years, for example, many aids have been developed on smartphones to enable people to use public transport systems independently. At the same time, ticket machines equipped exclusively with touchscreens cannot be operated by us. The ticket must therefore have been purchased through the app. If this does not work for some reason, the whole process becomes difficult. With this being said, a lot has improved in public transport. For example, all stations and exit directions on trains are now announced.

Meystre: Even if such apps can bring great advantages, digital progress cannot and must not replace human interaction. Despite all the enthusiasm for new technology, care must be taken to ensure that digitization does not lead to social isolation. This would clearly undermine the goal of properly integration visually impaired and blind people into modern society.

Butera: Another area in which there is still much to do is the living area. In particular, since the latest kitchen appliances like cookers, ovens and microwave ovens no longer have buttons, we have to be creative in order to be able to operate them. The ever-more complex menus and the sensor-only navigation fields make the simplest of operations a real challenge for us. Nowadays it is possible to equip many things with special accessories, but it is our aim to ensure that the development of new devices going forward also includes barrier-free access for people with disabilities right from the start.

A voiceover artist records voice guides in a studio

Q. Just like the voice guide on the new Samsung Smart TVs.

Meystre: That’s right. This collaboration with Samsung is exemplary of what we’re working towards. While it used to be easy to operate a simple TV with a simple remote control, the complexity of Smart TVs has created new obstacles. The fact that Samsung recognized this and sought our cooperation to solve this is testament to a genuine pioneering spirit and a sincere appreciation of us. We are very proud to be able to make a contribution to barrier-free television for blind and visually impaired people with this partnership.

Butera: The channel navigation that is read out loud enables us to watch television in a much more enjoyable way. Content with audio description has been available for some time, but only with this voice guide that reads out the schedule and current program options is it really possible for us to explore television without barriers. I am also sure that this new standard will be a great relief for others as well as the blind and visually impaired, such as older individuals with diminishing eyesight who previously required special aids to enjoy television. Furthermore, on a psychological level, it really is much more pleasant to encounter a TV that comes with the necessary adaptations built in rather than having to go to the lengths of custom-fitting a TV with specially designed technology.

The Turkish logo for the anti-cyberbullying project reads: “Don’t be a cyberbully! #beaware”

What is Cyberbullying?

The term cyberbullying can encompass a range of unpleasant actions that take place online, from gossip and exclusion to harassment and threats. Cyberbullying is carried out deliberately by individuals or groups and can cause serious psychological – and even physical – harm.

The collaboration between Samsung and BTK aims to heighten awareness of cyberbullying amongst the public and spearhead education initiatives for children, parents and teachers.

Raising Awareness

In the first stage of the project, a compelling film was created to show the effects of cyberbullying on young people and launch the message: “Don’t be a cyberbully!” A social media campaign followed, which encouraged large numbers of people to share the message, alongside the hashtag “#beaware”.

Cyberbullying leaflet for children (left), Cyberbullying leaflet for parents

Participants also replaced their profile pictures with a black square on their on social media accounts to draw further attention to the issue of cyberbullying. In addition, the project published two leaflets about cyberbullying, written by Dr. Emel Akca, a professor from Kocaeli University. One leaflet was designed for children, another for their parents.

Fighting Bullying Online

As part of Samsung’s Global Volunteer Festival, employees from Samsung Electronics Turkey were involved in face-to-face training sessions with over 200 local children and their parents this year, helping them to understand the effects of online behavior and social media use on young minds. Now in its second year, the initiative has thus far involved over 200 employees, and has reached more than 9,000 students and teachers.

Samsung volunteers hope to give children and parents the tools to prevent cyberbullying with face-to-face training

For the children, the training introduced the concept of cyberbullying and helped them to discuss the impact that cyberbullying has on their lives. Other key topics, such as time management and navigating the internet safely, were also explained. Samsung volunteers also took the time to sit down with the children in their own lives to explain practical methods for preventing and dealing with cyberbullying. With strong emphasis on empathy and ethical behavior online, it is hoped that children themselves will become key ambassadors for the anti-cyberbullying message.

Samsung volunteer Bilgin Baykam talks to a child about cyberbullying at home

During the parents’ seminar, the volunteers addressed important concerns, such as supervising internet access and usage, as well as introducing techniques that could help parents and families cope with cyberbullying. Parents were also encouraged to examine their own internet usage to help them guide their children in being more conscientious online.

This year, over 12,000 Samsung volunteers in more than 30 countries across the world have been involved in Samsung’s Global Volunteer Festival. The Volunteer Festival works with local community members and non-profit organizations to support a variety of projects in different regions.

Samsung Colombia volunteers present a fun and interactive lesson on technology, using puppets to explain the Internet of Things

On a bright day in October, Andres and his classmates took part in a rather different kind of lesson at his school. As part of Samsung’s Global Volunteer Festival, Samsung employees arrived to teach students about the Internet of Things (IoT). While Andres had heard of IoT technology, he was not sure what it could mean for him. He was excited to learn more.

As an industry leader, the company is aware of the importance of training tomorrow’s innovators in new skills. Using puppets to tell an engaging story, volunteers from Samsung Colombia introduced the children of San Francisco de Asís to cutting-edge technologies, including the IoT.

Throughout the lesson, the children were encouraged to ask questions, and Andres’ friend David, seated in the front row, was particularly attentive, enquiring how IoT devices could help him. He wondered what would happen if something as simple as a notebook was connected to the internet.

Curious students were encouraged to raise their hands and ask questions during the lesson

At the end of the story, the children were encouraged to reflect on what life would be like if things like a suitcase, clothes or tennis shoes were connected to the Internet and how it might make their lives even easier. They were asked what kind of objects they would connect to the IoT.

Working in groups, the children discuss their ideas about the IoT

Together, Andres and his friends imagined what it would be like if a tennis racquet was intelligent and connected to the internet. This racquet would sense their movements and measure how well they played every time they used it. It would suggest better moves, training activities, and even send a reminder to their phones whenever they miss tennis training. The racquet would also use fingerprints to sense if it was Andres or another of his friends who was using it. Additionally, a connected tennis ball could help Andres know how fast he was hitting it and follow the trajectory of the ball to monitor and improve his tennis.

In this entertaining and dynamic way, Samsung volunteers were able to teach hundreds of children of San Francisco de Asís about the new opportunities presented by IoT technology and how connected living can improve our day-to-day lives. The team was also delighted to participate in this type of social initiative and share their work with children like Andres.

A volunteer from Samsung helps these imaginative young minds design their own IoT devices

“The experience of being with children and sharing time with them makes a big difference to a normal working day. It brings great satisfaction to give back in this way. We volunteers also learn from the students: witnessing children as they naturally develop their creativity, helps you reconnect with your inner child.”, says David Setton, a volunteer of Samsung Electronics Colombia.

After the lesson, Andres was excited to tell his mother about his experience, He explained to her what the IoT is and how he and his friends had devised a new IoT product during the lesson. Andres was thrilled with the opportunities presented by this new technology. The lesson confirmed that in the future he wants to help as many people as possible with IoT technology.

This project is also a part of the annual Samsung Global Volunteer Festival held in October, a broader approach for Samsung employees to positively impact communities around them.

Students in Brazil chatting and engaging with technology

In Brazil, age-grade distortion is an emerging problem for schools. More than 7 million children and adolescents are currently behind in their schooling by two or more years, according to the 2017 School Census. These boys and girls have fallen behind for a multitude of reasons, but significant numbers are required to repeat academic years because they have dropped out, fallen behind, or were otherwise unable to progress in their studies. The “Trajetórias de Sucesso Escolar” (“Successful School Trajectories”) program was launched by UNICEF, in partnership with Samsung and NGO Cidade Escola Aprendiz, to provide data on this situation and offer solutions.

Regional data about age-grade distortion can be found on the platform http://trajetoriaescolar.org.br/, which provides statistics detailing the geographical spread and prevalence of age-grade distortion. The tool also provides surveys in the hope that people will be encouraged to share information such as race, gender and age profiles, among other details. By publishing this data, the project aims to shed light on the situation and thus face the challenge of age-grade distortion by creating policies that are tailored to specific states and municipalities.

The aim is to use the results from the platform to implement initiatives that are flexible and can be adapted to individual students, schools and regions. It is hoped that these initiatives will re-integrate the students into the school community and reduce the likelihood of truancy and failure.

UNICEF asserts that getting to know students is critical to ensuring that public policies are both efficient and effective. Samsung supports this mission and believe that the company can play a role in improving schooling across Brazil through the use of technology.

“We believe that the development of Brazilian education is a task for all members of society to overcome. Therefore, Samsung strives to collaborate and actively participate in improving the learning process for all students,” says Isabel Costa, Corporate Citizenship Manager at Samsung Brazil.

Samsung’s desire to encourage learning is key to their involvement in the initiative in Brazil. The company collaborated with UNICEF to discuss the future of the initiative at the “Promoção de Trajetórias de Sucesso Escolar” (“Promoting Successful School Trajectories”), a seminar held in Brazil last August that discussed the findings of a recent study conducted by Inep (“National Institute of Studies and Educational Research Anísio Teixeira”*).

UNICEF-Samsung Marathon

In addition to the “Trajetórias de Sucesso Escolar” project, Samsung has also committed itself to the “Maratona UNICEF Samsung” (“UNICEF-Samsung Marathon”), which is a programming and technology strategy to create educational applications that will help to encourage students in their studies and reduce age-grade distortion in Brazil. The project is being carried out in partnership with Softex (Association for the Promotion of Excellence in Brazilian Software) and will be implemented as part of the “Brasil Mais TI” program.

The UNICEF-Samsung Marathon’s final phase will start this month. There will be a presentation of 31 selected projects that have brought together students, programmers, designers, developers, teachers and inventors to create app prototypes for Languages, Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Human Sciences. These apps will be used to inspire students in grades 6–9 of elementary school.

Samsung is involved in the development of the apps in a number of capacities, including project mentoring and offering specialist support and knowledge. UNICEF and its partners are responsible for providing education support to the participating teams.

Offering More than Products

Samsung is a world leader in the field of technology, offering a range of products that help people challenge their limits and overcome obstacles so that they can achieve their dreams and life goals. Samsung is committed to innovation and is constantly investing in research and development so that they can offer their users the very best that technology can provide.

People are the main focus of the brand and for this reason Samsung offers a range of exclusive services, benefits, and experiences for customers through Samsung Care and Samsung Club. Communities can also benefit from Samsung Social, a sponsorship program that was designed to promote projects that create a more inclusive and sustainable world.

* Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira.

Featuring the participation of employees and their family members, the Volunteer Festival works with local community members and non-profit organizations to support a variety of projects including ones supporting education and digital learning initiatives. This year’s program saw the involvement of over 12,000 volunteers in more than 30 countries around the world – that means an average of about 400 Samsung employees took part in volunteer activities in a given day in the month of October.

Samsung Electronics America (SEA) saw regional offices across the United States participate in the company’s eighth Day of Service, an initiative that sees employees put work aside for the day and dedicate their time to local charity partners in the communities where they live and work. More than 3,600 employees took part this year, working to support initiatives benefiting residents in areas near SEA offices. Since the inauguration of the initiative in 2014, SEA employees have contributed over 128,000 hours of community service as part of the Day of Service program.

Employees from countries across Samsung Electronics Latin America (SELA) took part in an initiative to further education on cultural and ethnic diversity and inclusion. The program, titled SELA eSTEMos Juntos (“Let’s be together”), was a collaboration with Plan International harnessing the power of technology to educate over 700 children from disadvantaged public schools across Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

Samsung Electronics Nordic AB (SENA) recognized that, for a newly arrived immigrant, local language can be a huge barrier to entering the job market and fully integrating oneself in the society. Therefore, SENA collaborated with the Jarfälla Municipality in eastern Sweden to create a unique new project called eSFI (Swedish for Immigrants). Together with the local community, Samsung staff members provided digital learning support and training to help language learning seem like less of a hurdle thanks to a new digital language learning model.

In Italy, more than 50 Samsung Electronics Italy (SEI) employees took part in SAVE for Rome, a project dedicated to providing meaningful refurbishments to a local elementary school. In a collaboration with Retake Rome, volunteers and students renovated the entrance to the school in an effort to foster a learning environment that is as positive and welcoming as possible.

Meanwhile in Turkey, Samsung Electronics Turkey (SETK) worked with some 210 local children and their parents on a Stop Cyberbullying initiative to increase awareness around the effects of online behavior and social media on young lives.

In China, employees from Samsung offices in Xi’an, Suzhou and Tianjin volunteered their time to teach students at a local partner school how to best use electronic devices. Furthermore, the volunteers also held classes on more recreational topics, such as poetry reciting and airplane modeling, much to the students’ delight.

This year marks the third year of the company’s Samsung Love and Care program designed to enrich underprivileged communities across Southeast Asia and Oceania. In Myanmar, 40 employees of Samsung Electronics Myanmar  joined forces with the Kyimyindaing School of the Blind in Yangon. The volunteers worked together on community projects to enhance the quality of life at the school such as wall painting, serving lunch, organizing donations and providing basic medical check-ups to students and local youths.

Samsung Electronics Thailand also brought 53 volunteers to help enrich the ecosystem of Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary, the first Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand. Volunteers created a check dam for water conservation, made artificial saltlicks which would serve as food sources for wildlife animals, as well as made seed bombs, and planted them in the forest. All of these activities would also help prevent global warming.

Samsung Volunteer Month was founded in Korea in 1995 to increase Samsung employees’ contributions back to their local communities and has been flourishing across international offices since 2011. It is one of a wealth of programs established by Samsung to promote sustainable social and local development – all for a better tomorrow.

Technology has heralded an age in which everyone has access to education. It doesn’t matter what your nationality is, you still have the ability to learn—whether you’re a student learning something new or a teacher trying to improve the quality of the classes they teach. Technology helps to close gaps in learning and reduces intolerance as people become more exposed to other cultures. It also encourages the whole world to be more curious and open.

Inspired by this, SELA employees organized an event that would celebrate Samsung’s 2018 Global Volunteer Festival. To promote cultural harmony and inclusion among public schools, they formed an initiative called “eSTEMos Juntos” (Let’s be together!), which would teach children and youths how to incorporate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in their day-to-day lives.

Volunteers in action in Costa Rica (left) and Guatemala (right)

Volunteers equipped with Samsung Galaxy tablets and STEM interactive educational tools were positioned at four stations in each participating school. At each station the children would engage in fun and dynamic activities to learn about the cultural diversity of Latin America and the importance of inclusion.

SELA volunteers in Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica conducted educational and interactive MiniLabs, which instructed and engaged around 700 youths from public schools in disadvantaged areas.

The Panama team getting ready to start work

In one part of the program, there was a station for Rich Musical Rhythms, which gave students the opportunity to explore the musical rhythms of different regions. It also encouraged the children to compose music using a combination of traditional instruments and the digital instruments available on Samsung tablets.

Volunteers teaching music to students in Guatemala (top) and Costa Rica (bottom)

There was another station for History and Geography, which consisted of a memory game using an app designed for the activity. This allowed children to test their knowledge about the diversity of geographical sites and learn about the rich cultural pasts of different countries.

Costa Rica (left) and Panama (right) volunteers explaining an activity

The third station was set up for Traditional Games, which encouraged the children to play games from other nationalities and regions. Volunteers and students would select a traditional game from their country to play and have some fun. Then, they would explain how to play the game by creating a short video with the tablets. The idea was to share all of these games with students who were also participating in “eSTEMos Juntos” in other countries.

The final station was Electrical Circuit Creation. This station was dedicated to teaching students one of the fundamental principles of technology—how electricity works. Students learned about the seemingly magical world of electricity and how to create electrical circuits with clay and cables.

Volunteers taught children how to set up simple electrical circuits, short circuits, parallel circuits, and series circuits. They also assured the children that they could be part of the technology industry regardless of their background—all they had to do was learn.

Children creating electrical circuits in Costa Rica (left) and Nicaragua (right)

The day ended in high spirits and there was a small celebration for the children and volunteers.

The Guatemalan team celebrating with the students

This event was carried out with the support of the international non-profit organization, Plan International, which is a strategic and operational partner of Samsung’s corporate citizenship programs in SELA. It was also part of the annual Samsung Global Volunteer Festival held in October, a broader approach for Samsung employees to positively impact communities around them.

This year, the Love and Care Employee Volunteer Program, which included employees from the Samsung Myanmar Office, visited the School for the Blind (Kyimyindine) in Yangon. The school acts under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social Welfare.

The main aim of Samsung Love and Care Program is to enrich underprivileged communities across Southeast Asia and Oceania. They hope to improve their quality of life, particularly in regard to education and the environment, so every year, since the program was launched in Myanmar in 2015, Samsung Myanmar has organized activities and events to help and care for communities in Myanmar.

“We are very happy to see Samsung employees visit our school as these activities mean a lot to our kids and all of the children have been very excited to welcome the volunteers,” said Daw Khin Nyo Tun, Principal of the School for the Blind (Kyimyindine). “Even though they may not be able to see very much, the children are smart kids who can enjoy every moment to the fullest. They always like spending the day with the volunteers who understand them and can cater for their needs. The children do not like being treated like they’re different.”

The School for the Blind (Kyimyindine) provides educational and vocational subjects for kids and teenagers with visual disabilities as well as teaching students a way to lead independent lives with what they have learned. There are currently 190 students attending the school and receiving excellent help and guidance from the school principal and teachers.

“It’s my great pleasure to participate in this annual Love and Care Program because it gives us the opportunity to give something back to the community,” said YoungSeok Ham, Samsung Electronics Myanmar. We really want to make bigger, positive changes for everyone in Myanmar, so this kind of volunteer program is a special chance for all of us to earnestly contribute to the communities in this country.”

During the program, Samsung volunteers served lunch to the blind students and gave them basic medical check-ups. They observed how the kids learned braille and studied their school lessons. As part of a fun collaborative project, the volunteers also helped paint the classroom partition walls.

“I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this annual Love and Care Program as a Samsung employee. Being able to volunteer here and engage with the blind kids was very special and very rewarding. It was also very enlightening as we came to see the importance of kindness and a good quality of life for the able or disabled … we just need to try our best to achieve our dreams,” shared Khin Wai Lwin, IM Retail MCS Operation Manager at Samsung Myanmar.

As part of this year’s activities, Samsung Myanmar donated braille sheets, stationery, rice bags, a Samsung TV and snacks worth around 8 million Kyats (5,000 USD).

“I’ve been here in Myanmar for nearly 2 years now and we know that we still need to do a lot for the communities in Myanmar. This annual Love and Care Program is one of our key CSR programs being carried out in the country. Yes, we will try to give more back to the people here,” Ham added.

The Love and Care Program has given the Samsung Myanmar employees lots of opportunities to help the local community over the last few years. Initiated in Myanmar in 2015, the Love and Care Program began by helping out at Pann Pyo Lett Monastic Education School. Then, in 2016, the program was held on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the program focused on assisting the Myanmar Network for Persons with Disabilities. Last year, 2017, the program took place at Aung Myay Monastic Education School in Dagon Seikkan, which is a town near Yangon. This year, in May 2018, the Samsung Myanmar employees did something a little bit different and donated their blood to the National Blood Center in the hope that they may be able to save some lives and help those in need.

This project is also a part of the annual Samsung Global Volunteer Festival held in October, a broader approach for Samsung employees to positively impact communities around them.

Reporting by Soe Thura, PR and Citizenship Manager, Samsung Electronics Myanmar, edited by the Samsung Newsroom team

Samsung Electronics Taiwan employees volunteered to help repair the eco trails at Hehuan North Peak in the Taroko National Park

“Samsung Electronics Taiwan is committed to environmental conservation in Taiwan and giving back to society through community engagement,” said Randy Lee, Head of Innovation Group, Samsung Electronics Taiwan. “The adoption program went through nearly a year of internal planning and preparations before we began negotiations with the Taroko National Park Management Office. In mid-July, the first Samsung volunteers went to Hehuan North Peak to repair the eco trails by hand and thereby make a small contribution to environmental conservation in Taiwan.”

Samsung Taiwan Joins Forces with Taroko National Park to Help Maintain Its Wonderful Mountains and Forests

Hehuan North Peak is ranked as one of Taiwan’s most beautiful mountains and is considered a “friendly” entry-level peak. The breathtaking scenery can be seen from winding mountain paths which pass through groves of arrow bamboo. Due to high tourist numbers, the canopy has sustained severe damage, resulting in serious erosion to the hiking trails.

“On certain stretches of the Hehuan North Peak hiking trail the soil has become compacted and worn due to repeated trampling by hikers,” Mr. Teng-Wen Chang, Deputy Superintendent, Taroko National Park Management Office, commented on the issue. “The added impact of rainwater erosion has led to the formation of numerous gullies, which has created a dire need for repairs, education and management. Handmade eco trails represent an environmentally friendly solution. We are deeply grateful to Samsung Electronics for adopting the Hehuan North Peak in a pioneering move to promote environmental sustainability through concrete action.”

The number of employee volunteers repairing the hiking trail at Hehuan North Peak is expected to grow as Samsung Electronics Taiwan and Taroko National Park agreed to a two-year “Hehuan North Peak Trail Adoption Agreement”

Starting May 2018, Samsung Electronics Taiwan began to implement the two-year “Hehuan North Peak Trail Adoption Agreement” with the Taroko National Park Management Office. In addition to the joint promotion of environmental education activities, every two months Samsung Electronics Taiwan will send volunteers on a six-day visit to repair and maintain the hiking trails at Hehuan North Peak, clean the area around the “Little Valley” campsite, and inspect and report facility damage.

Volunteers Make Valuable Contributions to the Repair of Hehuan Hiking Trails

Each step of the trail takes roughly one hour to repair. Suitable stone and mud are collected locally and transported to the construction site on foot. The stone has to be chiseled and combined with mud to build edged paths that will help combat water damage and soil erosion, taking into account the direction of the slope to provide appropriate drainage for the repaired trail surface. As every aspect of the repair project is intricately connected, Samsung Electronics Taiwan’s employees underwent pre-trip training and complete altitude acclimatization, making sure they were effective in their volunteer activities.

The rocks and soil used to mend the Hehuan North Peak hiking trails were collected locally and manually transported to the repair sites

“The construction of a handmade eco trail requires great physical effort,” said Wei-Hsiung Chan, culture researcher and hiking enthusiast. “Though these trails will not last forever, it is through our interactions with the mountains that we develop a respect and love for nature. We find ourselves less self-centered and humbled before Mother Nature.”

The original story, in Chinese, is available at Samsung Newsroom Taiwan.

Additional Images

Employees underwent pre-trip training and altitude acclimatization prior to taking part in the volunteer activities at Hehuan Mountain

The eco trails at Hehuan North Peak were hand-repaired using local materials

Samsung Electronics Germany took part in Girls’ Day by organizing experience zones that featured activities designed to nurture young women’s digital skills and introduce them to career opportunities in information technology.

Background

Organized annually since 2001 in Germany, Girls’ Day is a nationwide activity supported by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Hundreds of companies and organizations take part, offering young women insights in career opportunities in the field of tech, science and IT.

Why It Matters

Encouraging more girls to explore opportunities in tech will lead to an enriching influx of talented women into the IT sector. Their insights will ultimately yield innovations that have the power to change the way we experience the world.

Each year, on the last Thursday in April, Germany celebrates Girls’ Day – a day dedicated to nurturing young women’s curiosity by encouraging them to explore opportunities in science and technology. This year, to celebrate the special day, Samsung Electronics Germany invited approximately 80 bright young women to take part in exciting activities held at locations across the country: at SEG’s headquarters in Schwalbach, at the recently opened Samsung Showcase in Frankfurt, and at the company’s Customer Service Plazas in Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart.

A joint effort of Samsung’s Citizenship and Service divisions, the Girls’ Day events offered students a chance to get hands-on with Samsung devices and digital technologies with the help of Samsung employees, who illuminated how the various innovations work.

A coding workshop at the Samsung Showcase venue demonstrates just how fun coding can be.

Unlocking Potential

Girls’ Day was created to tackle the pressing issue of women’s underrepresentation in the IT sector. Samsung Electronics Germany’s exciting workshops introduced students to various forms of IT-related work and invited them to learn more about fascinating careers that may not have been on their radar.

At Samsung Electronics Germany’s Customer Service Plazas, 11- to 16-year-old participants were treated to a fun and insightful training activity that offered them a closer look at how Samsung devices work. With instructors at their side, the young women disassembled Samsung Smart TVs, learned how the intricate components housed within interact with one another, and carefully reassembled them.

In Berlin, participants were shown how to take apart and reassemble a TV.

In Schwalbach, participants received a guided tour of the Samsung House, which also featured an enlightening overview of the wide range of careers that they could one day pursue at SEG. Students also received insights into content and video production for the Samsung Service website and took part in a lively demonstration of the rigorous tests that smartphones undergo before going on sale.

The Schwalbach experience zone also featured a special guest: YouTube star Jodie Calussi. In addition to participating in the program herself, Calussi interviewed the girls and filmed it all to share with her more than 440,000 subscribers.

Nurturing Digital Skills

Because teaching coding is a great way to nurture students’ digital skills, the brand-new Samsung Showcase venue in Frankfurt served as host to an exciting coding workshop. Conducted by experienced instructor Tobias Hübner, the beginner’s course served as a demonstration of just how easy (and fun) coding can be.

During the workshop, students were shown how to create their own computer game by programming a joystick connected to a PC and monitor.

After learning the basics of the Scratch programming language, the girls were shown how to create a computer game by programming a joystick connected to a PC and monitor. The activity was a hit with the students as well as Calussi, who hurried over to join in on the fun after finishing her session in Schwalbach.

Expanding Perceptions

SEG’s participation in the Girls’ Day initiative underlines its commitment to nurturing students’ digital skills. Encouraging more students to experience advanced technologies will lead more bright young minds to consider careers in IT – which will ultimately yield more powerful innovations.

“[Our Girls’ Day events] are intended to show that tech professions are not only for boys”, said Steffen Ganders, Director of Corporate Affairs, Samsung Electronics Germany. “Digital technologies fascinate us and enrich our lives, and it’s essential that we foster understanding of the mechanisms behind them.”

Video from last year’s Samsung Girls’ Day events (2017)

Additional images:

In Frankfurt, Girls’ Day participants were treated to an exclusive tour of the new Samsung Showcase venue.

At SEG’s headquarters in Schwalbach, an employee drops a Samsung smartphone into a tub of water as part of an energetic lesson on waterproofing.

A volunteer shows students how to effectively capture images using a digital camera

While equal rights continue to be widely discussed, gender equality hasn’t necessarily been the norm in many parts of the world. According to the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)’s 2015 gender inequality index(GII: higher the score, more severe the inequality), the average of South Asian countries (0.520) are behind the world (0.443) in terms of gender equality. Nepal is also part of the struggle – especially as it’s still recovering from the massive earthquakes that hit the mountainous country.

To help address this challenge, 25 Samsung Electronics employee volunteers travelled to Nepal last September to run the Designer’s School for Women Entrepreneurship*, a one-week course that focused on empowering girls and young women with skills in design and technology.

The Designer’s School for Women Entrepreneurship taught basics in business & marketing, writing resumes, interview skills and also held workshops for image-taking, editing and graphic design.

The teachers were at first worried that the students might have a hard time keeping up with the classes. But they were soon overwhelmed by the passion of the students – they would give up their breaks to ask questions and one girl, based on what she’d learned, even handed in her resume to a local designer.

Jihae Lim (Senior Designer, Future Experience Design Group, Visual Display Business) emphasized that it is important to empower people. “While many Nepalese women knit, it wasn’t until someone started selling it and invited more people to take part before it bloomed into a business,” she says. “We need to tap into the talents already in place and work to develop them into marketable practices. In enabling them to be independent, we take a step closer to sustainable development.”

Kusum, a local student, said that her eyes were opened to futures she previously hadn’t even dreamed of. And inspired by these new possibilities, she shared her passion with fellow young women in her area in the form of a poem.

by Kusum

“Surreal”

Many nights has given to you

Why don’t you practice it?

Don’t be quivered

What you can do just exhibit

Whatever was yesterday year

Let’s not feelings to quelled

Hey queen, crown is falling down

Don’t be moped

Don’t humiliate yourself

Just hatch your ideas

You’re the supreme of own

If needed just do rumpus

Be like a bonny moon

Who knows to glow in the dark

fight against your fear

Rush up, and try to stroke

Don’t be boggled

Be drivers of yourself

Sortie your afraidness

Create world full of light

plant new beautiful flowers

in your moored life

Know yourself, get yourself

Before being some’s wife

Among them is a group of students at the 13^th Primary School attended by both local Greek children as well as approximately 30 refugee boys and girls. Through the students’ creation of an app, they are learning to better engage with one another, despite language barriers.

Breaking Barriers Through Technology

Since 2015, immigration influx towards European countries, especially arrivals of refugees by sea to the borders of Greece, was increased dramatically mainly due to the ongoing Syrian Civil War. There were more than 856,000 arrivals by sea in Greece, an almost fivefold increase to the same period of 2014^*. An estimated 8% of the arrivals applied for asylum in Greece, with others hoping to find asylum in Northern European countries. Refugees’ children go to public schools and try to learn the Greek language.

Knowing that these children might feel isolated in a place where they cannot speak the local language, the students of the 13^th Primary School of Serres decided to keep their refugee classmates in mind when it came time to create their project for a coding competition hosted by Samsung Electronics Hellas and the British Council.

Using the tools of their school’s Smart Classroom, the students incorporated Kurdish and Arabic translation features to ”Help Friend”, an app that they developed to help assess students’ emotions and improve communication between students and educators. In doing so, the children aimed to promote inclusivity among the student body, and help non-Greek students feel closer and more connected to their classmates.

For their efforts, the participating students were awarded first place in the competition. But more importantly, they were empowered by being able to use their imagination and creativity to make positive contributions to their school and address issues that they had directly encountered.

Nurturing the Minds of Today’s Youth for a Better Tomorrow

Working with local governments, members of academic community and non-profit organizations around the globe, Samsung has established numerous programs – like the Smart Classrooms and the Coding Competition in Greece – designed to equip the world’s youth with the knowledge and skills they need to advance personally and professionally.

From establishing Digital classrooms in rural communities to engaging students in hands-on STEAM learning, Samsung hopes to enable every member of the global community to reach their full potential and take the initiative to pioneer innovations that will help solve the social issues of today and tomorrow.

To learn more about the students of the 13^th Primary School of Serres and their efforts to create a more inclusive school environment through technology, watch the video below.

A New Way to Cook

Bioethanol stoves are affordable, safe to use, and eco-friendly

In Mombasa, 80 percent of households depend on charcoal for their cooking requirements. Yet charcoal fuel used for cooking produces toxic fumes when burned, threatening the health of family members and neighbours and increasing the early mortality rate. Burning charcoal also leads to serious air pollution and accelerates deforestation due to the excessive harvesting of trees. Current fuel alternatives such as Liquid Petroleum Gas and Kerosene are expensive and considered a fire hazard.

Bioethanol, on the other hand, is a renewable, clean energy source, and a byproduct of sugar production. The fuel is six times more energy efficient than charcoal, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The stoves themselves are affordable, safe to use at home and have a reduced impact on the environment.

A Helping Hand

With this bioethanol stove, women and children of Mombasa are free from a 5-hour walk or waiting in a long queue to get a supply of charcoal.

Samsung Electronics and Green Development will provide training for sourcing, production and sales of bioethanol stoves and fuels, contributing to revitalizing the community’s economic sustainability. This project aims to improve the quality of life for the residents of the community, and to reduce the impact of climate change for global societies.

“Samsung Electronics is taking further steps to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to implement this project in refugee camps in Africa,” said Haengil Kim, Senior Vice President leading Global Environment, Health and Safety Centre at Samsung Electronics. “The company will continue to help tackle social challenges in local communities and to address climate change.”

A Commitment to Sustainability

As part of this partnership, Samsung Electronics will earn carbon credits issued by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), certifying the company’s’ commitment to reducing its carbon footprint in developing countries.

Samsung Electronics is committed to mitigating climate change. The company continues to reduce greenhouse gas emission in the facilities and to gradually switch to renewable energy sources. It also undertakes global social initiatives to raise awareness about climate change and protect the environment as a responsible corporate citizen. Samsung Electronics’ environmental approach and performance have been recognized as a global leader addressing climate change and included in the ‘2017 CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) A list’ ranking both in the climate change and water security sectors, placing the company in the Global CDP Index for eight consecutive years.

Improving Livelihood on Bangka Island

Samsung Smart Learning Class providing coding classes

Located east of Sumatra, Bangka Island and a neighboring island are the world’s largest producers of tin – a vital component in electronics devices including mobile phones. Despite the island’s rich natural and mineral resources, illegal and hazardous mining practices have threatened the environment, with residents of Bangka Island challenged with various health risks.

KangHyun Lee, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Indonesia, breaking ground in front of beneficiary house

In partnership with Samsung Electronics, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia will implement a three-year community revitalization program in two Bangka Island communities. In Penagan village, new homes will be built for over 100 families, and better access to clean water and proper sanitation will be provided to 200 additional families. 300 people will receive training in basic construction, water and sanitation, and financial education, and 100 people will receive job and vocational training. In the Opas Indah village, a high-tech Samsung Smart Library will be constructed for the use of students and the community, where various training courses will also regularly be held. This project is in line with the local government initiative, the Adopting Social / Underserved Village (ADES) program, to enhance the quality of life of citizens.

“As a global corporate citizen, Samsung Electronics is committed to solving social problems through our technology and innovation,” said Soojin Kim, Vice President for Global Public Affairs at Samsung Electronics. “This partnership with Habitat for Humanity will lead us to actively participate in solving community challenges in Bangka Island, triggered by tin mining, by providing affordable and clean housing as well as digital education and technical trainings opportunities.”

Ongoing Commitment

Samsung Smart Library in Rowosari Village built with Habitat for Humanity

Since 2013, Samsung Electronics has been a member of the Tin Working Group (TWG), a voluntary multi-stakeholder initiative to address responsible tin mining issues in the Bangka-Belitung region. Samsung will continue to work with Habitat for Humanity to improve housing and hygiene and provide access to digital education in the area, with the project to roll out for the next three years, with a special USD 750,000 fund mobilized by the Samsung Electronics’ Employee Donation Fund. As part of the program, Samsung is currently supporting health and safety education programs for artisanal miners in the region.

“Education is essential to all of humankind. Children, as the next generation, must be able to study and be provided all the resources possible to succeed. We appreciate Samsung’s commitment to partner with Habitat Indonesia and support low income families in Bangka Island,” said David Andre Ardhani, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia.

David Gabriel Ardhani, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia(Left), H. Fery Insani, Secretary of Bangka Regency(Centre), and KangHyun Lee, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Indonesia(right), breaking ground

Samsung Electronics and Habitat for Humanity have partnered together since 2013, supporting various projects in seven countries including Vietnam and Nepal. Earlier this year, Samsung and Habitat for Humanity completed a community development project in Rowosari village, Central Java, Indonesia which saw the construction of a Samsung Smart Library, community hall and the repair of 31 houses.

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported more than 2.4 million people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.

Now in its 23^rd year, the program features the participation of some 10, 000 Samsung employees and their family members, local community members, and non-profit organizations from offices in 20 countries. Volunteers give their time to aid various projects, including digital education and coding classes and lessons on the environment.

For the second year in a row, the company continued its regional Samsung Love and Care program, which is designed to enrich underprivileged communities across Southeast Asia and Oceania, particularly with regard to education and the environment.

Company volunteers in Thailand teamed up with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to restore forests and forage lands in Kui Buri National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan, as part of a royal initiative to make the land shared by humans and wild elephants a peaceful place for both to co-exist. The volunteers lent a hand by weeding forage fields, making saltlicks, and improving water resources in the national conservation site.

In Cambodia, volunteers from Samsung’s office in Phnom Penh worked with Future Light Orphanage of Worldmate (FLOW) to organize interactive educational activities for local children and teach them how to use educational mobile apps.

Dedicated company volunteers in Malaysia collaborated with the Industry of Relations Division and the Ministry of Higher Education to improve the living conditions for the residents of Kampung Ulu Tual, Kuala Lipis. Samsung organized an expedition to the Orang Asli village to provide upgrades to the village’s infrastructure and spread cheer through fun, educational activities.

In the Philippines, Samsung joined hands with the WWF once again to organize restoration activities at the Ipo Watershed, which supplies freshwater to millions of Metro Manila residents and neighboring jurisdictions. Company volunteers lead programs centered around the environment, community & health, and high-quality education.

Samsung offices in several Chinese cities also partook in the volunteering efforts, including a soap making class with 70 autistic children in Suzhou, and several educational programs for children and the elderly in TianJin.

In several states across the USA – including New Jersey, California and Texas – Samsung volunteers visited 55 health, education and environmental non-profit organization partners to run a plethora of helpful activities, such as art and math classes, trash collection, and making lunch boxes for those impacted by recent disasters.

Meanwhile in Brazil, Samsung employees paid a visit to the Gabi Institute, which supports low-income children, to give digital education classes where children learned how to use the latest high-tech products such as the Samsung Gear VR and Samsung Tablets.

Just north of Brazil, roughly 150 volunteers from Samsung Panama teamed up with local non-profit organization Eco Creando, to pick up trash along the Malecon beach; volunteers were able to fill approximately 400 trash bags thanks to their efforts.

The larger MolenGeek initiative has been recognized as a model program that leverages digital technology to alleviate the social challenges of high youth unemployment due to a lack of skill or education opportunities. The initiative has brought about new dynamic and positive attention in Molenbeek, a neighborhood that has typically suffered from high youth unemployment rates of over 30 percent and was once tied to terrorism. Already 25 startups have been launched by young entrepreneurs through the program, and another 156 are on their way. Some 120 students have been trained and found a job through the coding school program, which provides intensive, full-time education for three months on skills that are in high demand like coding for Android platforms.

For its part, Samsung, in partnership with the Belgian government, contributes to the MolenGeek initiative, by providing aspiring young entrepreneurs with the space to launch their own innovative startups and access to professional training resources at the MolenGeek center which opened in January 2017. In addition to technical support through its products, Samsung employees actively participate in events such as a Hackathon and Internet of Things (IoT) Challenge to provide mentorship for future digital entrepreneurs.

The presentation by the founders of the MolenGeek initiative as well as Belgian government and Samsung officials came on the sidelines of this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at an event titled, Technology 4 SDG’s: Digital Innovation for Sustainable Societies, organized by the governments of Belgium and Uganda at UN headquarters in New York.

“The MolenGeek project is an ideal example of how Samsung’s global corporate citizenship goals of promoting education, employment and healthcare, can align with the UN’s SDGs, which includes quality education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, and partnerships,” said Michiel Dijkman of Corporate Affairs at Samsung Electronics Benelux. “Digital innovation, fueled by public-private partnerships, can be an important aspect of creating a brighter future for youth and creating an inclusive society. In cooperation with model entrepreneurs, local and central governments, media and other corporations, Samsung will continue its ongoing work to empower young people and pave a brighter future for communities.”

The Technology 4 SDG’s event also consisted of an interactive debate, which discussed how to scale-up or replicate the best practices presented. The panel discussion, moderated by Henri Dommel, Director of the United Nations Capital Development Fund, included participants such as Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation of Belgium; Vincent Bagiire, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT of Uganda; and Robert Kirkpatrick, Director UN Global Pulse; as well as Michiel Dijkman from Samsung Electronics.

This is no different for the students of Samsung Hope School in Xinji County, Hebei Province, China, who dream of visiting faraway destinations like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, or going on exciting adventures, such as riding a roller coaster at an amusement park.

With a little help from Samsung Electronics, these children’s dreams are becoming a reality.

After interviewing students to determine their dream destinations, Samsung visited the sites that the children said they hoped to someday visit and recorded them with the Gear 360 camera. The students were then able to virtually experience the landmarks in 360 degrees via Gear VR headsets, and thus get closer to the places and people they’ve always dreamed of.

Perhaps the most touching ‘dream come true’ was when a young boy was able to watch a video message from his mother who works some 700 kilometers away from the small town to earn money for the family. The boy, who hasn’t seen his mother for over a year, was even more overwhelmed to see her sitting across from him when his headset was removed.

Watch the heartwarming event unfold and learn more about one of the ways Samsung is working to improve access to education in remote and often underserved regions.

Unfortunately, for more than four million children living in Myanmar, a responsibility to help their families make ends meet by working long hours – often at local teashops and restaurants – leaves them with no time to go to school with their peers.

In an effort to allow marginalized children in Myanmar to experience the benefits of an enriching education, Samsung partnered with myME (the Myanmar Mobile Education Project) on an initiative that effectively brings the classroom to them.

Samsung’s partner organization was founded in 2014 upon the belief that education is a critical step toward alleviating poverty and the abuses associated with child labor. Today, less than three years after a pilot run that included 60 kids in two teashops in Yangon, myME has expanded to serve more than 3,000 students from various teashops, roadside restaurants, monastic schools, and underprivileged communities across Myanmar.

The product of the partnership, the Samsung Mobile Education Bus program, has birthed a fleet of mobile classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art educational tools, including Samsung’s latest tablets and Smart TVs.

Qualified teachers travel in the customized buses from location to location teaching a curriculum that engages students with fun activities and covers standard subjects – such as Burmese, English and math – while also offering students an opportunity to learn skills that will ultimately help them seize their dreams and create a brighter future.

Steve Lee, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, described what participating in the project means to the company.

“We’re pleased to see the children of Myanmar being able to pursue their dreams through the Samsung Mobile Education Bus program,” said Mr. Lee. “We will continue to strive to support marginalized communities in Southeast Asia, including Myanmar.”

On August 10 of this year, Samsung donated its third mobile education bus to the initiative at a ceremony held at Yangon’s Hledan Center. In attendance at the event was the Speaker of Yangon’s regional parliament, U Tin Maung Tun, who summed up what Samsung and myME’s contributions have brought to the children of his country.

“We are very happy to see that these working kids now have a chance to experience a fun, interactive education thanks to the efforts of myME and Samsung’s generous contribution,” said Mr. Tun.

On top of providing a space for students to enjoy interactive lessons on standard school subjects, Samsung’s newly donated bus also features a built-in kitchen that will make it possible for students to learn about food safety and whip up delicious snacks with their friends.

In addition to bolstering local education, this year, Samsung Myanmar organized a number of initiatives designed to cultivate youths’ talent and creativity. These include the Samsung Quiz Show, which targets local high school students, as well as the national Galaxy Star K-Pop singing competition, which offers aspiring young singers a chance to win a grand prize of 100 million Kyat (approximately $75,000).

By introducing initiatives that nurture youths’ creativity and personal development, Samsung hopes to make it easier for children in Myanmar to pursue and achieve their dreams.

Efe’s idea, which he calls ‘Motokask-Motoheadguard,’ promotes road safety by placing a sensor in motorcyclists’ helmets that communicates with a control mechanism attached to their vehicle. When a rider puts on their helmet, a wireless signal is sent to this mechanism, which then allows the engine to start. If the rider attempts to ride without their helmet, the engine does not run.

The competition that provided a platform for Efe to showcase his innovation, Samsung Future Inventors, was a collaboration between Samsung Electronics Turkey and the Creative Children’s Association, under the umbrella of Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow initiative.

Nurturing Solutions for Tomorrow’s Problems

Just as its name implies, Solve for Tomorrow was established to encourage bright young minds around the world to come up with fresh solutions to pressing problems. With contests in countries around the globe, the initiative challenges students like Efe to dream up innovative ways to improve the world around them. The competitions’ ultimate goals are to enrich communities in need with meaningful innovations, and to nurture these students’ growth, confidence and ingenuity.

In 2016, a total of 18 open competitions were hosted in as many countries, including the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China and Turkey.

The competitions award the most exceptional innovations. For coming up with a clever way to prevent road accidents, Efe earned his contest’s top prize. After receiving his award, Efe described how participating in the competition had inspired him to keep pursuing scientific projects and inventing new ways to help others.

See how Solve for Tomorrow competitions around the globe are helping students like Efe realize their creative ideas and make a difference in their community.

Building a Bridge to Make Dreams Come True

This past March, Samsung China organized a Solve for Tomorrow competition with the goal of making it easier for students in a mountainous region of Zunyi to get to school safely.

The contest challenged participants to design a model of a functional load-bearing bridge that could be used to construct a real one. After a winning design was selected, volunteers worked together to build the structure, which they dubbed the ‘Dream-Weaving Bridge’.

Along with lending a hand in the bridge’s construction, Samsung China staff donated science books and other educational resources to the rural school. Upon finishing the project, volunteers and contest participants walked away with a well-earned sense of accomplishment, as their efforts had made it easier for students to study science and pursue their educational dreams.

As Solve for Tomorrow participant Lü Xiaobo expressed afterward, “After helping to build the Dream-Weaving Bridge, and having seen the children’s smiles, I now see my life’s purpose more clearly, and will work hard to promote the study of science in the future.”

Promoting STEAM in the USA

In April, high school students from across America gathered in Washington, D.C. for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest – a competition that challenged students in grades 6 through 12 to come up with STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) solutions to real-world problems.

The students in attendance at the National Union Building represented the contest’s 10 finalist schools. Groups took to the stage before a panel of judges to pitch their unique projects, which spanned from a vending machine that supplies free hygiene products to the homeless, to a robotic car seat that detects when a child is left in a hot vehicle and alerts their parents.

The contest’s three winning schools hailed from Arizona, Nebraska and New York. Their respective award-winning projects included a low-cost wildlife detection system to alert drivers of animals crossing the road, a drone-powered spraying system to target weeds and reduce the use of chemicals on crops, and an app that allows restaurants to donate food that might otherwise have gone to waste to provide after-school meals for students in need.

By promoting the study of sciences and helping the next generation make a difference in their community, Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow program wholly embodies its guiding philosophy of inspiring the world and creating the future.

So far, the initiative has supported over 3,000 schools that have allowed well over 1.4 million bright young minds to learn in more fun and interactive environments. As is the case with Samsung’s Tech Institutes and other education-enriching initiatives, the ultimate goal of the Smart School program is to level the playing field to help students in these communities thrive in the digital era.

Accessible Education for All

According to the 2016 UN Sustainable Development Goals report, some 124 million children and teenagers worldwide were unable to receive a proper education due to financial costs and lack of accessibility in 2013, the latest year for which data are available. Because education is a major determinant of one’s quality of life, not to mention the general well-being of a community, Samsung has made an effort to improve access to education through its Smart School initiatives.

For example, Samsung’s African Regional Head Office has jointly operated solar-powered internet schools throughout Africa in cooperation with the Korea Education & Research Information Service (KERIS) under the Korean Ministry of Education since 2011. Equipped with Samsung’s tablets, PCs,  and other devices, the schools motivate students through captivating lessons taught by local, KERIS-trained teachers. Similarly, Smart School’s Engineering Academy in Nairobi provides tailored curriculum for those pursuing careers in engineering.

Today, 78 Smart Schools are operated in 10 African nations including Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya.

Meanwhile, in Taiwan, an estimated 500 children are diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized for months of arduous treatment. Because such medical difficulties often make it impossible for them to attend school with their peers, in January, Samsung Electronics Taiwan (SET) partnered with Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital to open the very first hospital-based Smart School.

Designed to create a motivating learning environment, the Smart School features TVs and tablets pre-installed with educational apps that allow children to learn in fun and engaging ways. In this way, hospitalized children are able to regain a sense of normalcy without falling behind in their studies.

Empowering Young Women Through Digital Education

Despite the fact that many countries throughout the world have worked to close gender gaps in education and labor force participation, many gender differences still persist. Women, for example, are less likely to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – areas collectively known as STEM.

Recognizing this, Samsung established the Smart School’s Female Academy Program in Ghana. Here, women attend a series of training sessions facilitated by knowledgeable field experts. Through their education, the female participants are equipped with the tools they need to pursue STEM fields.

Likewise, Samsung’s North American Regional Head Office, in collaboration with Discovery Education, an NGO dedicated to coding education, offers an extra-curricular program to fourth and fifth grade girls. Offering a wide range of hands-on computer programming and electronic training activities, emPOWER Tomorrow helps girls develop an interest in science, technology, and coding. Furthermore, they are given the opportunity to meet with Samsung’s female scientists and engineers to explore future career options.

Enriching the Learning Experience

Perhaps no other learning tool is more effective than technology. With classroom technology, educators can get more students engaged, improve collaboration, and most importantly make learning fun.

For instance, when Samsung launched its Digital Classroom program to address digital skills gaps in the UK in 2013, it outfitted a total of 15 digital classrooms with a complete suite of educational tools including tablets, laptops, and an interactive whiteboard. Samsung’s research findings that were announced last September underlined the great strides that the students made in developing digital skills, and showed that, overall, those who took part demonstrated much greater confidence and teamwork.

Meanwhile, in Bulgaria earlier this year, Samsung Bulgaria and Junior Achievement Bulgaria partnered with the State Archives to digitize some 22,000 valuable historical documents as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the country’s national heritage. The three-way partnership resulted in the nation’s first fully digitized lessons in history, literature and the arts, which will allow students in Smart Schools and in classrooms across the country to study and experience new facets of their country’s rich history.

Across the world, Samsung Electronics Taiwan established yet another first-of-its-kind Smart School – one that allowed students at three different schools in various corners of the country to simultaneously tour Taiwan’s Museum of Contemporary Art. In the ‘co-learning connected course,’ one school served as host, livestreaming a tour of the museum using Samsung’s Gear 360 and Galaxy S8, while the others followed along remotely from their classrooms. After the tour, the schools competed against one another in a fun pop quiz utilizing Samsung tablets.

By establishing more Smart Schools in different corners of the world, Samsung aspires to arm the next generation with the tools they’ll need to better connect with one another, quench their thirst for knowledge, and ultimately conquer the challenges of tomorrow.

As part of a joint partnership between Samsung Electronics and the AmirKabir University of Technology (AUT) in Iran, the Samsung-AUT Tech Center was recently opened to support technology research and innovative projects, in addition to boosting education and employment prospects for students.

Operating under the Samsung Corporate Citizenship series of programs, the center’s primary focus is on mobile application development within the health, environment and energy, education, and employment sectors. As part of its efforts, the center will provide logistical and technical support, as well as facilitate the development, production, and introduction of innovative and useful applications.

At the center, young people will also receive support in the form of training, mentorship and equipment, with the aim that they use this support to create their own projects that will help them to become more employable in the future. In addition, with research and development another major activity of the center, Samsung will also support knowledge-based ideas and companies.

For Samsung, partnering with the AUT has numerous benefits, with the school being one of the best polytechnic universities in Iran. In addition to helping validate the work being carried out at the center, the partnership also enables Samsung the rare opportunity to reside in a university facility.

“Technological development and supporting related R&D activities are among the main requirements for any developing country, and universities play an undeniable role in this regard,” said BumSuk Hong, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Iran. “As one of the world’s leading technology brands with a keen interest in supporting innovative and new ideas in the field, Samsung Electronics has partnered with the AmirKabir University of Technology to launch this Tech Center, paving the path for many innovative ideas ahead.”

Dr. Ahmad Motamedi, President of the AUT, said, “Cooperation with international companies and utilizing their scientific capabilities, is a strategic plan of the university. It’s for this reason that we decided to benefit from the international experiences and technological capabilities of Samsung through a joint project, and fortunately our decision was welcomed by Samsung officials.”

The Samsung-AUT Tech Center sits alongside other Samsung education initiatives in Iran, which aims to create jobs for young people. The Samsung Engineering Academy has been in operation for more than two years and around 1,200 people have graduated from the academy already. 41 of the graduates have also been recruited by Sam Service, a Samsung partner company.

As Samsung continues its citizenship efforts in Iran, the company looks forward to both empowering and supporting the country’s talented young people as well as contributing to a better society for the future.

All proceeds were donated to DENIDE Paraguay, a non-profit association dedicated to providing comprehensive educational care and employment opportunities for children, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities.

See the highlights of the event in the photos below.

Runners prepare for the start of the marathon.

A sea of blue floods the running course.

Participants were all smiles throughout the event.

At the Samsung Running Festival 2017, participants of all ages came together not to compete but to share in their passion for life and community.

Experience firsthand the passion of the event participants in the video below.

Places like Tiom, a small village in the mountains of Indonesia’s Papua province without a single light bulb. For families like 10-year-old Deni’s, the day ends when the Sun goes down, and the absence of light can make working, preparing meals, and even having a comfortable conversation with family difficult.

Follow Deni as he walks us through a typical day – and night – in his quiet community, and see how the 1,400 solar-powered lamps donated through Samsung’s campaign are changing people’s lives.

On March 27, Samsung Vietnam introduced the 2017 edition of its Samsung Talent Program (STP), which aims to nurture local information technology (IT) and electronics-telecommunications (ET) talent through scholarships, specialized courses and research and career opportunities. This year, STP will expand to nine universities and include resources worth VND 8.5 billion in total value, making this the program’s largest undertaking yet.

Since launching in 2012, STP has awarded 360 scholarships worth VND 10 billion in total value; sponsored Samsung Labs at multiple universities; provided Java, Android, Tizen, Algorithm Application and Korean courses for over 3,400 students; and invested more than VND 5 billion in various research projects.

This year, STP will award 120 scholarships to senior IT and ET students studying at the participating universities, which are located in the northern part of the country. In order to be eligible, students must be in good academic standing and participate in a programming contest and interview. The best candidates will receive a one-year, VND 54 million scholarship and a chance to work at Samsung Vietnam’s Mobile R&D Center (SVMC) in Hanoi.

The program also includes various initiatives designed to promote Vietnamese tech students’ development.

STP 2017’s Algorithm Application course will be open to all students at participating universities who enjoy programming. The ultimate goal of the course is to provide 1,500 students with access to programming lessons taught by experienced faculty members.

Samsung Vietnam also funds hands-on, which offer university students opportunities to participate in research, engineering seminars and group activities, and sponsors students’ participation in software design and programming contests.

STP 2017’s new Business Internship Program, meanwhile, will select 500 IT and ET students for internships at SVMC. Students will gain valuable experience, receive training in algorithm application, and develop advanced analytical and problem-solving skills that will help them secure a position at an IT corporation after graduation.

The program will also put approximately VND 3.5 billion toward university-proposed mobile technology research and studies to benefit local communities. These projects will provide students with even more opportunities to hone their skills with hands-on, practical experience.

Samsung Electronics has adopted a training scheme and a wider commitment to fair and safe treatment of migrant workers. The drive comes at a time when there is increasing interest in migrant workers, particularly in Malaysia. There are already large numbers of migrant workers in the country, particularly in global manufacturing and agriculture supply chains.

Problems of migrant workers in Malaysia also come from its geographical aspect, including the sheer size of Malaysia and its free-flowing border with neighboring Indonesia. In this unavoidable environment, massive improvements based on proactive efforts are necessary to resolve the threatening issues, such as forced labor and exploitation of migrants.

Guidelines

For Samsung, this meant a campaign of activities to make sure workers from overseas are treated fairly. Firstly, the company announced a new set of guidelines at the end of last year. The Samsung Migrant Worker Guidelines with support from BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), came to eradicate forced or coercive labor.

And these guidelines aren’t just for Samsung internally, they are also essential for the company’s partners, labor suppliers, and recruiting agencies to establish an appropriate recruiting culture under the guidelines of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC).

Clarity is key

Following the Guidelines, Samsung conducted training in March 2017 attended by about 60 people from first-tier suppliers, labor sourcing company and recruitment agencies. Through the training, Samsung hopes to make its employment of migrant workers as transparent as possible. The training was focused on sharing the key aspects of the guideline to explain that commission for recruitment is prohibited, contracts must be provided in the employee’s mother language, and the company must provide travel expenses to enable employees to return to their home countries after the contract term is complete. Additionally, to protect the freedom of the workers, Samsung and its partners are also prohibited from storing employees’ identification cards forcibly.

Because human rights abuses often take place in opaque infrastructures, Samsung will protect workers by giving them full clarity of what their job will entail. They will be fully informed of what to expect from their roles and they will also be told about illegal fees they should avoid before, during and after their employment. All of this will ensure that no employees are working under duress.

One of attendees from Samsung’s partners in Malaysia said “Through the training program, I understood key items that company has to comply with Samsung Migrant Worker Guideline and EICC standard”. The attendee added “I have already started to set up the proper process in the management system”.

Also at the end of the training, HR Senior manager, Mr. Yeap in Samsung Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd highlighted that it was very important to work together with our partners to implement these guidelines and to strengthen fair recruitment process through the supply chain taking into account key stakeholders, such as suppliers, labor sourcing companies and recruitment agencies.

What’s next?

Samsung will continue the training going forward as necessary, but for Samsung, this commitment doesn’t end with the training. In this year, Samsung will conduct an on-site inspection of its partners and labor suppliers. The company will also continue to review its processes to make sure they are fair for all workers.

Forced labor, slave labor and human trafficking are a big problem that will require a staunch effort from companies all over the world. Samsung cannot tackle the issue on its own but the company is playing its part to make a difference and ensure that workers continue to be a priority.

Beyond the Horizon is a joint initiative of Samsung Mobile, White Cane non-profit organization and Shazam. Creators of the project set a task for themselves to use the inspiring story of Alexander Zhuravlev, a photographer who lost almost all of his sight, to show people what they can achieve, assist with realizing their creative potential and getting the most out of their lives, as well as give a vivid and grounded proof that many obstacles that seem overwhelming are merely a challenge one should counter.

Alexander Zhuravlev lost almost all of his sight when he was 11 years old. Despite all the difficulties, he was able “to see beyond the horizon” of his capabilities and become a photographer, bringing to life his childhood dream. For that, he needed just a smartphone, using which he was able to make impressive landscape photos based just on his senses and hearing. Alexander used the Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone in his photo shooting activities.

During the presentation of the Beyond the Horizon project guests of the event were able to see the world through Alexander’s eyes using a special app for Samsung’s Gear VR. For every spot where Alexander made photos – on Sugomak and Kyshtym lakes, on the surrounding peaks and in abandoned mines – panoramas were shot using Samsung’s Gear 360 camera. Afterwards the panoramas were specifically processed to reflect how Alexander saw these places when he was there.

“We at Samsung do not create just technologies, our innovative solutions actually help change people’s lives, make them easier and better,” said Seif El Hakim, Samsung Mobile Marketing Director in Russia. “Alexander’s talented works call for us to look at the world surrounding us more closely, appreciate its beauty and immensity and look beyond our own ‘horizon.’ This project is an example of a synergy of ordinary life and hi-tech technologies. It inspires us! It was a great pleasure to support it.”

“The most difficult thing in this world is to see your own possibilities. You already have all of them. They surround you everywhere. Those who at least see the horizon can step beyond it,” commented Alexander Zhuravlev.

The presentation program also included a demonstration of a short documentary about Alexander and his travels in Russia directed by Ivan Sosnin (Red Apple 2017 grand prix winner for his Piter by Bushe Bakery movie).

“This project has become the biggest and the most important one in my career. It got possible due to support from Samsung and Cheil agency. It is not just a movie, but a performance, and not about a disability, but rather about every one of us. Those who watch the movie and live through it will certainly learn something important for them. A large team of ambitious and result-oriented people worked on this project and I can proudly say that these efforts were made for a good reason,” noted Ivan Sosnin, director of the Beyond the Horizon documentary.

A number of other activities are also taking place within the project. Alexander’s pictures are demonstrated on the screen of the world’s largest smartphone placed on the Hydroproject building in Moscow. Using Shazam, everybody can visit the promo page to get all the information about the project. On the page there is also a special platform where Alexander Zhuravlev’s photos can be purchased. The project has been carried out in cooperation with the Zuzza.ru portal.

Alexander Zhuravlev’s exhibition will be open from March 24 to April 9 at the Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography.

About the Beyond the Horizon project

Beyond the Horizon is a joint initiative of Samsung, White Cane non-profit organization and Shazam. This social project is aimed at drawing attention to the inclusion process of people with disabilities and realizing the creative potential of every person so that they can get the most out of their lives.

A Samsung sales branch goes dark for the ‘Turn Off Your Light’ campaign.

On March 21, Samsung Electronics’ Digital City in Suwon, Korea and 51 global sales branches joined in the company’s ‘Turn Off Your Light’ campaign, which encourages switching off the lights for one hour to address issues surrounding climate change and electricity inequality.

The campaign was organized to precede the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)’s Earth Hour, which will be held on March 25. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the WWF campaign, which takes place for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March, and also raises climate change awareness.

Samsung Electronics’ Digital City headquarters in Suwon, Korea goes dark for the ‘Turn Off Your Light’ campaign.

Unlike the WWF event, Samsung elected to kick off its campaign on a weekday evening – to reduce office CO2 emissions – and encouraged employees to raise the issue of climate change at home with their families.

Held under the theme “Electricity I saved and donated to those suffering from electricity shortages,” Samsung’s campaign began at a sales branch in New Zealand, which was followed by branches in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and North America respectively. The amount of electric charge saved at these branches will be delivered, along with social welfare donations from Samsung Electronics, to regions in Indonesia that are suffering from electricity shortages.

Samsung’s lights-out campaign led to a reduction of approximately 8,000kg of CO2 emissions and saw the company donate 1,400 LED lanterns to the residents of Tiom, a rural village in Indonesia’s Papua province. Now, Tiom’s residents may feel safer and freer at night without worrying about electricity shortages.

Soon-Sun Shim, Head of Samsung’s Global Customer Satisfaction Center, described the ‘Turn Off Your Light’ campaign as “a meaningful activity that emphasized the fact that we care about the environment and wish to help our neighbors around the world who suffer from electricity shortages.”

“We were able to make a difference with the help of our employees,” Mr. Shim continued. “We will continue to serve as a socially responsible corporate citizen by organizing activities that protect the Earth and help others.”

Out of 2,200 Korean companies operating in Indonesia, Samsung Electronics Indonesia was recognized for its corporate social responsibility program, which has consistently focused on improving education, health and community development.

This year, four programs particularly stood out in exemplifying Samsung’s commitment to supporting Indonesian communities, representing its lasting identity as a model corporate citizen.

Self-Learning for Vocational Success

To help underprivileged Indonesian teenagers develop skills for employment, Samsung Electronics Indonesia started the Rumah Belajar (“home learning” in Indonesian) Samsung program for those without access to formal educational resources.

The program teaches students how to repair electronic products that meet the Samsung Service Center standard, giving future graduates a chance to work at a Samsung Service Center, or even set up their own businesses down the line. The program has taught over 2,000 students so far, and has produced over 1,500 graduates.

Digital Libraries Show a New Way of Reading

As a way to support the Indonesian government’s “Love to Read” program, Samsung created Samsung Smart Libraries – reading facilities equipped with smartphones and gadgets for access to digital books and digital library applications.

By transforming the traditional library into a digital space, the Samsung Smart Library engages people using familiar gadgets to read electronically.

The libraries will be available at the Samsung Tech Institute in Makassar and Banjarmasin, K-Lounge ITB in Bandung, the Samsung Experience Service Center in Jakarta and others, until the end of 2016.

Helping Small Businesses Grow and Innovate

Another program that has contributed to local growth in Indonesia is Samsung’s One Village One Product (OVOP) program, which aids small and medium enterprises to further develop their businesses.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Small & Medium Enterprises and the Korea Trade-Investment Agency (KOTRA), Samsung reached out to three cooperatives this year to help them nurture their businesses to be able to compete in higher markets.

Samsung’s training for these small businesses features online marketing strategies for companies to be able to independently grow their business online, improve product quality and expand their networks.

Young Minds Combine Creativity with Technology

Lastly, Samsung held Samsung Ideaction, a youth technology competition. Students were asked to submit potential mobile app ideas which could help make daily life activities easier for user, incorporating Samsung mobile devices.

The top three teams were presented with educational scholarships, and the first-place winner was awarded the chance to visit Samsung Digital City in Korea and entry into Samsung Electronics Indonesia’s management trainee program.

Finding Shared Values within Local Communities

Every year, Samsung strives to improve the lives of others through sharing resources and providing support. Samsung Electronics Indonesia is only one part of Samsung’s global community, but it represents overall corporate citizenship, which highlights the values of technology and innovation.

On December 12, in the latest extension of its “Love and Care” corporate citizenship program, Samsung provided 1,000 students at Cambodia’s Hun Sen Chumpo Vorn General Education and Technical School with free motorbike helmets. The event was organized to promote safe riding habits and raise awareness of the traffic accidents that claim the lives of scores of Cambodian youths every year.

The Samsung Corporate Citizenship Helmet Campaign is the latest Samsung-driven initiative organized in the country, following similar community-focused events such as an employee volunteer program, an Angkor Wat conservation project and various donation drives. The helmet campaign addressed a matter of great concern in the country, where instances of drivers traveling at excessive speeds and under the influence of alcohol have created cause for serious concern.

In Cambodia, 70 percent* of victims of traffic accidents are motorbike riders, and 66 percent* of those fatalities are caused by severe head injuries. Such figures are all the more staggering considering that only 22 percent* of motorbike riders regularly wear helmets.

Samsung organized the Samsung Corporate Citizenship Helmet Campaign to raise awareness of traffic accidents and their socio-economic consequences and educate motorbike and bicycle riders on ways to prevent the unfortunate situations. As part of the campaign, professional trainers from Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport outlined basic traffic laws and the necessity of regular helmet use to help students stay safe on the road.

“Today, it is my pleasure to cooperate with the Ministry of Education and the Hun Sen Chumpo Vorn General Education and Technical School to launch the Samsung Corporate Citizenship Helmet Campaign,” said Seungho Choi, Managing Director of the Cambodian branch of Samsung Electronics’ Thai operations. “My message to all students today is to always wear a helmet when you ride a motorbike or bicycle – for your safety, for your family, and for Cambodian society.”

Also in attendance at the event was H.E Bou Chumserey, the Under Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. “I’m pleased to attend the Samsung Corporate Citizenship Helmet Campaign in Cambodia,” said Chumserey. “I’m grateful that Samsung continues to contribute to our community and create positive change for our citizens.”

* Reference: World Health Organization, Road Crash & Victim Information System (RCVIS) 2013

Samsung Electronics introduces “Our Digital Creators: An overview of Samsung’s Corporate Citizenship Programme in Europe 2016.” The brochure is full of stories drawn from Samsung’s most influential and inspiring educational projects, and contains quotes from educational partners, teachers and students across each of the 17 markets that hosted Samsung’s initiatives.

Samsung’s goal over the last three years has been simple: to use technology to transform the educational experience and empower young people to become the innovators of tomorrow. The results of these experiences, and the critical role Samsung has played in incorporating technology into education, are reflected in the observations of participating educators like Jacqueline Willer, Head Teacher at London’s Henwick Primary School.

“I can remember walking past a classroom and seeing the children completely and utterly focused, heads down, completely immersed in their learning,” she recalls. “It was such a marked difference from how I’d seen that class learning the year before.”

A Commitment to Digital Education

This is a time of unprecedented change, and it is Samsung’s belief that technology is a driving force behind this transformation. When used in the right way – generously, and with good intentions – technology can be a powerful force for good.

Samsung’s vision has always been to create shared value, especially through our corporate citizenship programs, where our ambition is: “To devote our human resources and technology to create superior products and services, thereby contributing to a greater global society.”

As outlined throughout the brochure, this commitment has been expressed through years of initiatives spanning employment, digital creation, connected classrooms, museum partnerships and issues of social awareness.

Addressing regional problems with locally relevant technological solutions is the backbone and strength of our citizenship programs. This strategy has enabled us to reach nearly 400,000 direct beneficiaries through over 1,600 Smart Classroom and 80 Digital Classroom programs. In just three years, we have advanced a movement for technology in education with initiatives such as Samsung Campus, Beat the Street and Coding Masters Junior.

Coding Masters Junior has effected changes in the Polish education system that will ultimately help more students develop valuable digital skills. As a result of that project, beginning in September 2017, programming courses will be included in students’ core curriculums from the first grade of primary school on.

Samsung Campus, another enriching initiative, is a free, two-year course open to 18- to 25-year-olds who have a passion for technology but may not have received opportunities to pursue it. The program focuses on developing programming skills to help students secure employment, and welcomed its inaugural class in September of 2014. Since graduation, 68 percent have found employment, and the remaining 32 percent have elected to pursue further training.

In July, in collaboration with German publishing house Cornelsen, Samsung organized a roundtable for developers and educators to discuss integrating VR technology into the classroom. Interactive VR apps were designed and presented, with the winning concepts tested at six select schools. The project yielded the first-ever VR app designed specifically for classroom use, and established prototypes with which to design immersive lessons to cover a variety of school subjects and reach as many students as possible.

With OFF4ADAY, Samsung, in partnership with Moige (the Italian Parents Movement) and the Italian State Police, established the country’s first helpline to support victims of cyberbullying – an issue affecting a third of Italian teenagers. OFF4ADAY has so far helped more than 2,000 teens, and taken measures to raise awareness in schools that have seen cyberbullying-related web searches increase by 60 percent.

Finally, in the Netherlands, where 18 percent of traffic accidents involving youngsters are caused by distractions from smartphones, Samsung teamed up with traffic safety organization Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN) to create the ‘Beat the Street’ virtual reality game. The game, which provides crucial lessons on traffic safety and the dangers of distracted smartphone use via immersive VR, has so far reached some 4.5 million citizens.

A New Chapter of Influence

Technology is an ever-evolving field, and Samsung’s citizenship activities are no different. We’re currently on track to meet our pledge, made to the European Commission’s Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs, to reach 400,000 people by December 2016, and we’re now shifting our focus to the future. This brochure closes one chapter of our citizenship story, focused on quantity, and initiates a new vision focused on quality, innovation and partnerships.

Samsung will focus resources on a network of lighthouse schools that will serve as shining examples of the future of education, and enhance its technology and education partnerships by bringing 3D printing and VR technology into more classrooms.

The stories found in the pages of this brochure pay tribute to the countless people – spanning local NGOs, governments and experts in education – who are as passionate and committed to making a difference as we are.

When we work together with shared ambitions and focus, we truly can achieve the incredible. The “Our Digital Creators” report is available in its entirety via the attachment below.

For centuries, libraries have been regarded as founts of knowledge and history – repositories in which to preserve vital wisdom to pass down from generation to generation. Each, regardless of its nature – from the Vatican’s Secret Archives to the massive Library of Congress – was built to ensure that humankind’s progress would not be lost to the sands of time.

In this digital age, however, it’s easy for physical books and libraries to become afterthoughts. The ubiquity of e-books, PDFs and word documents – instantly downloadable via the internet – have diminished our need for them. Libraries must therefore find ways to adapt to changes brought about by our modern conveniences. If they don’t, they’ll no longer serve as storehouses for our knowledge and histories. Rather, they’ll become history themselves.

Samsung recognizes this need for modernization. In an age where a wealth of information on seemingly any topic can be obtained with a quick search of the worldwide web, libraries should be more than just places for people to leisurely read a novel or do some academic research.

Although there’s nothing wrong with silently studying by oneself at a local library, studying with a group can ultimately prove more productive, allowing one’s ideas to be constructively critiqued and their progress to be appraised. While an innovative thought or groundbreaking idea may certainly hatch in the mind of one person, honing such an idea with others’ informed input can go a long way toward improving and realizing it.

Since their respective launches, S.hub Ho Chi Minh and S.hub Hanoi have quickly become hubs for students, professionals and speakers to share their ideas and experiences.

Samsung’s S.hub initiative was born of this philosophy. For it, Samsung teamed up with the Ho Chi Minh City General Science Library and the National Library of Vietnam in Hanoi, whose outdated buildings and equipment have hindered public attendance, to renovate the libraries’ facilities and outfit them with the latest tools and equipment.

S.hub Ho Chi Minh (left) and S.hub Hanoi, after their respective

The goal of the initiative is not only to update the facilities with modern tech like touchscreen monitors and personal tablets, but to also create spaces that can serve as scholarly hubs where people, especially students, may gather and nurture one another’s academic inclinations.

The first S.hub, installed in the Ho Chi Minh City General Science Library, opened its doors in October of last year. S.hub Hanoi, meanwhile, which established a collaborative space for students and young professionals to gather in the Vietnamese capital, launched just a few weeks ago, on November 24.

These successful launches in Vietnam’s largest and most dynamic cities not only mark the triumph of the initiative, but also establish an effective blueprint to install additional S.hubs in cities across Vietnam – and perhaps other countries as well.

Activities during S.hub Ho Chi Minh’s one-year anniversary celebration included bookmark making, as well as a book auction, sale and exchange.

Lefa had always wanted to explore the wider world, and Samsung’s solar-powered internet school effectively placed it at her fingertips. Part of Samsung’s Smart School initiative, these schools provide educationally marginalized students with equal access to educational resources on the web.

The goal of the initiative is to bridge the IT accessibility gap and improve the quality of students’ education by collaborating with governments and appropriate organizations to provide interactive learning opportunities with digital devices. Since 2013, Samsung’s Smart Schools have supported over 200,000 students in 72 countries.

After her Smart School experience, Lefa began a successful career as a PR-marketer in Johannesburg, where she continues to brighten the days of those around her. Follow her journey as she leads another bright young mind on an eye-opening experience with the help of Samsung’s Smart Schools.

It is often said that the world is running out of oil reserves, and humanity only has enough for a couple more decades. One reason for this is the sheer amount of resources that are being wasted. Many products are simply used once, and then thrown in the garbage. That sort of waste is costly – both in terms of disposal costs and for the burden it imposes on the environment.

However, an environmentally-conscious trend has emerged that aims at mitigating this problem – the “Circular Economy.” As opposed to a linear economy, in which resources are used one time and then thrown away, the circular economy works to minimize resource waste, boosting sustainability by repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing products.

The circular economy represents a major policy initiative, focusing both on boosting economic development and environmental protection. It reduces the costs of extracting and processing resources, while lessening the environmental impact caused by excessive waste. To implement a circular-style economic system, companies need to decrease the quantity of natural resources they use and redesign their production system so resources can last longer. Additionally, products should be reused after production, recycled after disposal to find new life.

Circular Economy Efforts Globally

Today, many countries are working toward circular economies. In particular, the nations of the European Union (“EU”) have been the most active in making this transition. The EU first put forward a Circular Economy Package in July 2014 and is continuing to improve its associated systems and technical standards.

Major international cooperation organizations, including the UN and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), are also encouraging the development of related circular economy policies, conducting a wide range of research into efficient resource utilization. That research includes how to assess resource sustainability, mineral recycling rates, and economic policy.

In the electronics industry, the circular economy requires designing products that are easy to upgrade and repair, as well as increasing the use of recyclable parts. More changes will occur in the manufacturing industry as various EU policies take effect, including in the areas of resource efficiency, product policies, waste alleviation, and finance.

How Samsung Reuses, Conserves, and Uses Resources Longer

To do its part to support the circular economy, Samsung Electronics is engaging in a range of activities that improve the efficiency of its resource usage and minimize the waste it generates. Among those steps, Samsung is trying to ease the repair and recycling of its products from the planning and designing stages, as well as prohibiting the use of harmful elements in its parts.

One example is with recycling plastics. Samsung Electronics is increasingly using plastics from disposed of electronics goods, processing the plastics for reuse in some new products. It is also designing products that are easier to disassemble, to increase recyclability. Furthermore, Samsung Electronics changes parts, reinstalls software, or changes labels for returned products and sells them as refurbished phones for reduced prices. This service is provided in the U.S. and U.K., and improves resource efficiency by facilitating the reuse of goods.

Another example is in recycling packing materials. In Korea, packing materials for items like refrigerators used to be thrown away after being used just one time. But then Samsung changed the material it uses for packing, switching to more durable materials, so now packing materials can be reused. Recycled paper is also being used for the boxes that cellphones and PCs come in. In 2015 in Korea alone, Samsung Electronics recycled 79,950 tons of products, including refrigerators, washing machines and displays, as well as 7,040 tons of packaging.

The company is also reducing the resources it uses by minimizing screen thickness, bezel width, and TV screen weight. Products with rapid replacement cycles, like cellphones, can be restored as usable products. In some countries, Samsung collects old cellphones from consumers, then repairs and refurbishes them. Those restored devices can be provided to consumers at an affordable price, once again saving on resources.

Samsung’s efforts to implement a circular economy are not limited to recycling resources. The company is also working to release products with a longer life expectancy, so that consumers can use them for a long time before needing replacements. Software is updated regularly to help extend device lifespans. Furthermore, the company provides a range of customer assistance services, both online and offline, so consumers can resolve issues that may arise with their products and use them longer.

The world is striving to create a more circular economy, and Samsung Electronics is actively trying to make those changes, too. Creating a more sustainable economy will change the world in many ways, and Samsung will continue to do all it can to implement environmental and resource-related solutions while producing the best products.

Akshay, a student of JNV Chandigarh, wants to become an engineer

Nineteen-year-old Akshay became a hero among his classmates at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in Chandigarh, when he topped the 10th board examination in 2015. He hopes to repeat his performance in the upcoming 12th standard board examination next year.

Akshay attributes his transition from a “backbencher” to an outperformer to the introduction of digital education in his school three years ago.

“I used to be a mediocre student, but I felt attracted towards studies when Samsung Smart Class was introduced in our school. The class is beautiful and well-maintained, there’s a big LED screen and I had a laptop. I loved it. I think, it is one of the big factors behind me getting a perfect 10 CGPA in my 10th board examination.”

Samsung launched its Smart Class programme in collaboration with JNV schools in 2013. Every Samsung Smart Class is equipped with an interactive Samsung Smartboard, Samsung laptops/tablets, Wi-Fi connectivity and power backup.

Samsung Start Class in JNV Chandigarh

The digital environment in Samsung’s Smart Class not only helps students learn complicated concepts easily, but also encourages them to participate in classroom discussions.

“Students are always curious and interested to come to Samsung Smart Class. It makes teaching easier and there is a great deal of interest to learn new things.” says Anup Kumar, who teaches Mathematics at JNV, Chandigarh.

Mrs. Santosh Sharma, the Principal of the school, says the concentration level of students has gone up, their concepts have become clear and they are overall more confident.

“My students are showing more interest in academics and asking more questions in the class.” she added.

JNV Chandigarh Principal Mrs. Santosh Sharma says the number of toppers is on the rise

In 2015, JNV notched Chandigarh notched up its best performance in 10th class board examination, with as many as five students getting a perfect score. The number of students in the top A1 and A2 categories has also gone up since the introduction of digital education, according to Mrs. Sharma.

JNV Chandigarh is home to over 500 students from across the country

“We want our classes to be interesting, where we can watch, listen and understand different concepts. Samsung Smart Class proved to be of great help. It made studies easier helped us understand concepts and get answers through video conferencing too,” says Simran, who is one of the five JNV students who got a perfect 10 CGPA in 10th standard.

Simran used a laptop for the first time, when Samsung Smart Class was introduced in JNV in 2013

Samsung Smart Class supplements regular lessons in mathematics, science and social science to explain concepts in an engaging and interactive manner. Now, many teachers have started preparing their own digital course material, so that students get a better grasp of all subjects.

“I have been using Samsung Smart Class to take the students through epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. Samsung Smart Class has caught the imagination of children. Students are attentive even in the absence of teachers in the class,” said Rajesh Kumar, who teaches Hindi at the school.

It’s not only academics, where Samsung’s flagship citizen programme is making a difference. The digital environment at JNVs has helped students develop keen interest in extra-curricular activities, such as quizzing and Olympiads, teachers say.

The smart class also doubles up as a computer lab because of good internet connectivity and state-of-the-art equipment, teachers say.

“Samsung Smart Class helps me think beyond the box and expand my thinking,” said Utkarsh, who wants to become an astrophysicist.

Utkarsh attributes his keen interest in Physics and Astronomy to innovative courseware in Samsung Smart Class

Samsung Smart Class runs in over 373 JNV schools and has benefitted over 2 lakh students. Over 7,400 teachers have been trained on how to use interactive technology to teach.

“We are elated with the phenomenal success of our flagship citizen program in India. This initiative is closely tied with India’s development agenda, and implemented in close partnership with government departments to ensure wider reach and impact among the less-privileged children,” said Mr. Deepak Bhardwaj, Head of Citizenship at Samsung India.

The ACES 2016 awards judging panel (from left): Irene Ng, Shanggari B., Hemant K. Batra, Dr. Jayanthi Desan, Andrew Bryant, Dr. Jeffrey Goh Sim Ik

Samsung Electronics was named ‘Community Care Company of the Year’ at the 2016 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards, held on November 17 at Singapore’s Shangri-La Hotel. The award is the highest accolade in its category and testament to Samsung’s continued commitment to global citizenship and creating positive change around the world.

“Samsung is honored to be recognized for our community care efforts once again, and it gives us tremendous pride to be awarded the highest accolade for this category,” said Irene Ng, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia & Oceania. “We strongly believe that success goes beyond tangible business achievements, and giving back to the communities that we operate in has always been an integral part of our brand philosophy. Over the years, we have established scalable and sustainable citizenship programs across the region, placing education at the core of how we serve each community.”

According to Dr. Jayanthi Desan, a member of the awards’ judging panel and the founder and Managing Director of Synergio, one of Malaysia’s leading sustainability strategy consultancies, the ACES Awards champion companies in Asia that have exhibited extraordinary leadership and sustainability. With the award, Samsung joins a list of winners in the ‘Top Community Care Companies in Asia’ category that have been deemed to have demonstrated exceptional citizenship to bolster the wellbeing of society at large.

Enriching Communities, One Classroom at a Time

Samsung has helped communities across Southeast Asia and Oceania establish more than 160 Smart Schools and Libraries to bridge the digital divide and provide students with a smarter approach to education. These institutions collaborate with government bodies and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to harness technologies and create immersive learning opportunities for students in the form of tailored education programs and enriching infotainment content.

In addition, Samsung has developed 20 Tech Institutes to nurture talent across these regions – providing local youths with opportunities to attain a better future while simultaneously addressing the industry’s shortage of technical talent.

Samsung also recognizes the need to tackle other issues of vital importance to these communities beyond these educational pursuits, and has accordingly rolled out initiatives such as SONO Schools, which feature customized training curricula for medical students, and Culture Connect, its flagship regional citizenship program that celebrates aspects of each community’s distinct culture and heritage.

Samsung Electronics has been teaching young people to code in over 1,300 Smart Classrooms across Europe since 2013. Since these citizenship programs began, 400,000 young people from around the region have participated and learned more about coding.

Our company is in a unique position to understand just how quickly technology is advancing, connecting and changing the world we live in. This technology is inspiring an ambitious generation of young people who are growing up in a world without barriers to innovation.

Unfortunately this generation is also at risk of being left behind.

Teachers often do not have the right skills or confidence to keep up with the speed of technology development and too many young people are leaving school without the digital and soft skills that their future jobs demand.

European Code Week

Coding is the framework behind the entire digital world, from mobile apps, computer games and online web platforms to automated systems and robots. That is why coding is one of the most important skills to teach the innovators of tomorrow.

“Coding is a cultural technique of our time. This gives children and young people additional opportunities to become producers of their own digital content and media. Coding strengthens digital competencies as well as problem solving and encourages logical thinking,” said Martin Bauer, Head of IT Didactics and Digital Media at the Austrian Ministry of Education.

During Code Week (Oct. 15-23), the European Commission, Samsung Electronics and other businesses joined together to celebrate coding. Together, they presented young people around Europe with coding-related events, to inspire and teach them these crucial digital skills for the future.

Here are some highlights from Samsung Electronics:

Poland

As one of the most ambitious coding nations, Poland is fifth in Europe for the number of Code Week events relative to its population size.

Kindergartens, schools, libraries, museums and offices all took part in Coding Masters across Poland. Significant cultural institutes also took part, including the Copernicus Science Centre and the Ministry of Digital Affairs, and even the Samsung Service Warsaw Spire.

Austria

In the two months leading up to European Code Week, children in Austria worked on developing over 2,000 apps.

The Samsung Mobile Classroom – which was housed in a large yellow bus –  travelled through the country for nine weeks, conducting 217 hours of coding workshops for children. Attendees to the Mobile Classroom learned how to produce games and other apps directly on their own mobile phones, as well as how to control robots, connecting abstract commands with concrete results.

“It was fascinating learning how I could really create my own computer game!” commented one student.

“It’s cool to use your phone for more than just talking and playing games, learning how to code a new game on it,” said another.

Germany

Coding projects worth 75,000 euros truly demonstrated the value of teaching children to code and innovate.

In recognition of this achievement, 100 children, teenagers, parents and instructors were invited to the Samsung Code Week Award ceremony and workshop, where the location was turned into a creative space.

Through eight workshops, children and young people were taught to design and program computer games and microcontrollers, and to code their own little robots. Those robots later competed against each other in an arena.

United Kingdom

Pioneering new creative ways of teaching coding, the UK announced a partnership with the new Micro:bit Educational Foundation during Code Week.

The Foundation is a nonprofit, independent organization that builds on the huge success of the BBC micro:bit program, aiming to lower barriers to technology invention for young people, creators and developers globally. Focusing first on Europe, the organization will enable teachers, governments and educational organizations to fulfil their digital educational goals and help improve digital skills across the globe.

Now in its twenty-second year, this year’s event saw participation of around 2,200 teams made up of over 160,000 Samsung employees, their family members and citizens of local communities. These teams joined various projects and programs to support education, social welfare and the environment in 26 countries.

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO), for example, teamed up with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to conduct a series of edutainment programs that aimed to enhance the environmental awareness of local students. Likewise, Samsung Electronics Indonesia led a series of interactive activities utilizing Samsung products to bring students closer to nature and to instill in them a love for culture and history.

Samsung India Electronics Ltd. Noida also worked to better the environment by participating in a range of clean-up events and tree-planting activities at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. Furthermore, Samsung Electronics Switzerland GmbH spent a day assisting farmers to support and promote the preservation of Swiss National Parks.

Samsung’s Nomad Smart School was the focus of Samsung Electronica De Columbia’s (SAMCOL) volunteering initiatives. Local children learned about Columbia’s biodiversity, geography and culture through a series of missions and digital games.

Meanwhile, employees of Samsung India Electronics Ltd. Chennai hosted a variety of fundraisers such as a company-wide movie day and food festival to raise money for local charities.

Samsung Volunteer Month was established in 1995 to boost employees’ volunteering activities in Korea and has been celebrated in overseas offices since 2011. Through programs like these, Samsung remains committed to promoting sustainable social development for a better tomorrow.

For the past three years, university students in Myanmar have had the opportunity to take advanced computer and IT courses thanks to an innovative program from Samsung Myanmar. The Samsung Tech Institute: Mobile Application Training is designed to advance knowledge and skills in mobile and digital technology as well as IT and related industries, and ultimately, help young adults gain employment through training and education.

Each year, the program brings together senior students from computer studies universities across the country for a two-month course.

This year, 150 students from across the country will gather at the Yangon University of Computer Studies and Mandalay University of Computer Studies for phase one of the training involving basic mobile application development for the android platform along with theoretical lessons and group practical sessions Another 30 select students will join the second phase of training at the Yangon University of Computer Studies for advanced mobile application training. All students will also be provided with learning aids including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 as well as support for their weekly expenses.

Group photo with the students, teachers, faculties, government officials and Samsung Myanmar officials.

Since 2013, more than 400 students from across Myanmar have had the opportunity to participate in the courses. As a company invested in connecting with young people and society and using technology to create a better world, Samsung Myanmar is proud to support the Mobile Application Trainings as part of the Samsung Tech Institute Initiative.

Aung Si Min Htet, a member of the first-place team at Samsung Tech Institute: Mobile Application Training 2015 with the creation of “Go Go Around” application, is one student who understand the benefits first hand.

“This training gave me opportunities to learn knowledge on mobile application development. Hopefully, I expect Samsung Myanmar offers more similar trainings which can turn out many outstanding mobile application developers.”

Aung Si Min Htet is currently starting his career as a professional android freelance developer.

Maung Linn Myint Kyaw, a student at the University of Computer Studies Yangon, was selected to attend this year’s Institute. As he explains, he is excited for the hands-on opportunity afforded by Samsung.

“I have seen many big companies are doing CSR activities in our country. But, most of them focus on donations of cash and kinds. It is good. But, in my mind, supporting and helping our country turn out outstanding youths and qualified young professionals is the best as our country needs such youths and professionals.”

As a technology company, Samsung Electronics is devoted to preparing the next generation of innovators with the digital and soft skills they need.

Samsung Electronics is just one piece of the wider global network of businesses, governments and civil society supporting teachers and working towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

Education in Europe

In Europe, one of the biggest issues is high youth unemployment.

Following the financial crisis; too many young people are at risk of being left behind without the skills that their future jobs demand. Education systems sometimes struggle to respond to the changing needs of employers and teachers often lack the support and confidence to adapt how they teach to match the increasingly digital world.

This is why over the last three years, Samsung Electronics has partnered with over 19,000 teachers in Smart Classrooms all over Europe to equip them with the hardware, software and training they need to empower the next generation.

Therefore, on World Teacher’s Day, Samsung Electronics wants to celebrate the teachers who have broken down barriers and gone beyond expectations to use technology to change the face of education.

Erwin Oertli, Switzerland

Going from a zero-wifi school to a lighthouse of digital education, Head teacher Mr. Oertli has broken down many educational barriers!

Based on their experiences as Samsung Citizenship partner in Unteriberg, 2000 Samsung tablets were rolled out to the students and teachers across the district, but the schools still needed to train the teachers in a short space of time.  Head teacher Mr. Oertli knew, that teacher training is the keys for a successful implementation and saw an opportunity to completely switch around the school learning experience.

“I asked students from Unteriberg to do a tech savvy training for teachers to help them understand their devices”

Erwin Oertli is an early adopter and has successfully trained 200 teachers in the biggest 1:1 tablet project in Switzerland.  He is an inspiration to how flexibility and creativity can ensure students never miss out on opportunities to use learn digital skills.

Benjamin Seelisch, Germany

Transforming a school with no wifi and limited funding into a school using the latest technological innovation; this teacher has been taking Neues Gymnasium Rüsselsheim, a secondary school near Frankfurt, on a digital journey since 2011.

Benjamin Seelisch has worked tirelessly to convince the headmaster, find funding and sponsorship to develop this Lighthouse School. The school now has 350 tablets in daily use and the school has won many awards. This teacher continues to be brave and push the boundaries of education as he embarks on his latest project to use VR in the classroom.

“Students are well able to use modern devices on a basic level, only a few know how to work with tablets to increase productivity. Those skills are important for our students when they go on to universities or companies after graduation.”

Liliya Chausheva, Bulgaria

This one teacher has inspired over 300 other educators!

After receiving training from Samsung, she used her passion for expanding digital education to run 15 further trainings. Using the Samsung platform smartclassroom.bg she trained teachers how to attract students to the classroom, inspire them with the technology and embed digital education into their entire learning experience.

Her dedication to passing on her knowledge has potentially changed the learning experience for thousands of students around Bulgaria.

“Digital education is the future. Our students nowadays spend more time online than ever. As their teachers and role models we have to be prepared as well and make educational process attractive, interesting and still productive.

Samsung Electronics partners with many more teachers like these shown above. Future growth of technology in education will continue to bring to the surface these ambitious teachers. They are brave enough to move beyond traditional teaching methods of blackboards and workbooks, to bring the digital world to life for their students.

Samsung Electronics today announced the research findings from teachers and 3,000 pupils across the UK who have participated in its Digital Classroom programme over the past three years. Samsung has been supporting education as a global cause since 2013 and the Digital Classroom initiative was launched in order to explore the impact technology has on teaching and learning, helping to address the digital skills gap in the UK.

Feedback from the schools participating in the programme reveals that pupils demonstrated high engagement with lessons, were more motivated and showed marked improvement in grade attainment. Teacher confidence also improved and teaching practices changed over time, with children increasingly able to work independently and collaboratively. The three-year initiative has involved establishing Digital Classrooms in 15 primary schools in challenging circumstances across the UK. Students and teachers were equipped with a suite of classroom technology including tablets, Chromebooks, laptops and an interactive whiteboard, as well as providing key training for teachers and ongoing technical support, to create an enhanced learning environment.

The research findings underpin Samsung’s belief that the provision of technology acts as a facilitator for fueling natural curiosity and a desire to learn. Bringing technology into the classroom had a positive influence on pupils’ digital skill development, enhancing their learning experience and increasing pupil collaboration and confidence:

• 89% of pupils believe that the equipment helped them to learn new digital skills, with 81% now finding it easier to do a variety of tasks on computers and 79% saying they work better with their classmates.
• Pupils confidence increased, with nearly 9 in 10 (88%) saying they felt more equipped for their next academic years of study.

Moreover, the findings highlight the great improvements that pupils’ have made in developing their digital skills between the start and the end of the 2015/16 academic year:

• Over half (57%) are writing code more frequently and are finding it easier to write code on a computer or tablet, compared to 28% at the start of the year
• 83% of pupils now find using apps an effective and easy way to learn new things, compared to 64% at the start of the year
• Knowledge of online safety has also improved, with 80% of pupils now more aware of how to stay safe on the internet, compared to 60% at the start of the year
• Over four-fifths (82%) find a computer or tablet helpful when working with other students in a team, compared to 70% at the start of the year

The Digital Classroom also had a disproportionality positive effect on children who needed extra support and motivation. Teachers reported that the Digital Classroom increased flexibility, gave them the capacity to differentiate learning and made lessons far more inclusive. By making work more attractive, this served to boost pupils’ independence, confidence and pride. The use of reading apps has helped children with dyslexia feel equal in the classroom while translation tools have helped those for whom English is a second language.

Bede Community Primary School, in Gateshead, Newcastle, is one of the schools which was selected to become a part of the Digital Classroom programme. Three years on since launching the classroom, teachers have been amazed with how the technology has transformed their lessons.

Andrew Riley from Bede Community Primary School commented: “One of the greatest impacts of the Samsung Digital Classroom has been on pupils’ personal growth and maturity, both in the classroom and outside of school. The programme has helped teachers to cultivate independence and build confidence amongst pupils by encouraging ownership of learning outcomes and self-directed learning. Here at Bede School, we feel there is a very clear relationship between academic achievement and the digital classroom, with every pupil who has taken part in lessons in the classroom progressing by at least two levels. Pupils are now more open and ready to learn in the classroom, which has meant the pace of learning has increased.”

Aleyne Johnson, Head of Government Relations and Citizenship, Samsung UK said: “We are delighted by the fantastic results generated by the Samsung Digital Classroom initiative, with the last three years showing a positive shift in pupil’s attitudes to learning as a result of integrating more technology into lessons. Whilst we have come a long way, it’s not over yet, and we are looking forward to continuing to work with our partners and many educational initiatives, to create innovative digital learning environments across to the UK to support and invest in the workforce of tomorrow.”

Discover the Samsung Digital Classroom at a glance below!

Samsung Electronics believes that technology has great potential to make lives better. Through strengths in innovation and technology, Samsung will play their part in solving some of the global challenges and to contributing to a better society.

This is why Samsung has established 1,300 Smart Classrooms, 65 Digital Academies, as well as numerous other partnership programmes across Europe. These programmes are about more than just providing physical hardware. Teachers are trained and connected to a community which inspires curriculum enrichment. Students are empowered to learn important digital skills through coding, website and app development and enhance their learning through technology.

Samsung believes in creating the classrooms of tomorrow. In Europe there is a growing digital skills gap so all Samsung citizenship programmes aim to inspire the next generation of innovators and teach them 21st century skills. This will prepare students for the jobs of the future.

Digital skills for all ages

The programmes are also designed to activate digital learning at all ages.

Samsung Smart Classrooms teach the fundamentals of digital skills during the core developmental years, 6-16 years old; whilst Samsung Digital Academies are aimed at young people aged 16-24 who need digital skills to boost their employability.

Evelyn Nicola (Sustainability & Citizenship Manager, Samsung Europe) speaking at the IFA 2016 press conference about Citizenship programmes in Europe.

One example of a Digital Academy is the Samsung Campus in Paris. France’s top IT school EPITECH and non-profit ZUP CO offer intensive training for young people not currently in education. The programme inspires young people to re-join the job market with new skills.

Christophe, 26, is about to complete his training at the Samsung Campus in fall;

“The training at Samsung Campus has allowed me to develop sought-after digital skills and I have now secured a permanent contract for after I complete my training. I can enter the job market with confidence!”

In addition to Smart Classrooms and Tech Institutes, Samsung has worked tirelessly to develop partnerships with some of the world’s leading organisations to reach more people together.

In the United Kingdom, Samsung has been working with the British Museum since 2009; sponsoring an engaging and innovative digital learning programme and education space. The Museum’s Samsung Digital Discovery Centre (SDDC) offers free digital sessions for schools, families and teens.  Since opening the SDDC has welcomed over 80,000 visitors and technology is one of the top reasons teachers choose to book a session. Students are able to discover the Museum’s unparalleled collection in creative and educational ways, using Samsung’s latest technology. Visitors have even been taken back to the Bronze Age to see objects in their original settings, using Samsung Gear VR headsets. The use of virtual reality technology has proved to very popular with the Museum’s visitors, with one participant remarking:

“It made me feel as if I was actually there and gave me a sense of how things actually were in the Bronze Age”

New MakerBot Partnership

At IFA 2016, Samsung Electronics Europe announced its latest partnership with MakerBot EMEA, a global leader in 3D printing technology.

Andreas Langfeld (General Manager of MakerBot EMEA) speaking at the IFA 2016 press conference about the Samsung and MakerBot partnership.

The programme will launch its first phase in schools, colleges and museums within five key European markets: Germany, Italy, Spain, UK & Sweden. 3D printers and a full set of solutions will be allocated within the already established network of Samsung programmes.

This partnership aims to inspire creativity by combining design and coding classes with 3D printing so students can experience the full design cycle as a way to develop ideas and innovate. This will equip the next generation of architects, engineers, product designers and innovators are needed to keep up with the fast pace of technological advancement.

The future of Citizenship

The Samsung Electronics Corporate Citizenship team will continue to partner with like-minded companies that share the same ambitions in digital education and bring something unique to our network. Next steps will be to develop a network of excellence centres who can share their content. Samsung wants young people to tell their stories, and inspire others across Europe.

In the words of Evelyn Nicola, Samsung Europe’s Sustainability & Citizenship Manager;

“Along with MakerBot, we call on other brands at IFA to join us, as we prepare the young people of today for the jobs of the future”

Samsung Electronics Europe today announces that it is joining forces with MakerBot, a global leader in the desktop 3D printing industry, to inspire the next generation of innovators by bringing 3D printers to classrooms across Europe.

Samsung and MakerBot are equipping schools, colleges and museums with 3D printers as part of Samsung’s digital skills programme so that students at any grade level can both code and create. The planned first phase launches in Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Sweden this year and builds on Samsung’s network of 1,300 Smart Classrooms and 65 Digital Academies.

The vision behind the partnership is to combine design and coding classes with 3D printing so students can experience the full design cycle as a way to develop ideas and innovate. With MakerBot, educators and students have access to a full set of solutions and services that enables them to tackle real-world problems.

“In response to the alarming skills gap and high levels of youth unemployment in 2013, we backed the European Commission’s Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs with a pledge to engage 400,000 young people across Europe by 2019. We will achieve our goal 3 years early so we can now invest further in educating thousands of young people in the latest digital skills.” says Evelyn Nicola, Sustainability & Citizenship Manager, Samsung Europe.

“Our partnership with MakerBot will support a network of ‘Lighthouse Schools’ – centres of excellence for digital learning across Europe – to teach technology skills and encourage design and manufacture. Just imagine a 9 year old girl with her idea for a new design, being able to turn her idea at school into reality and take home. Experiencing the entire creation journey, from idea to digital concept to physical object represents the future of learning and R&D.”

“Samsung and MakerBot share the same vision of developing new technologies that help prepare students for the jobs of the future,” said Andreas Langfeld, General Manager of MakerBot EMEA. “3D printing can help teach many of the 21st century skills that employers are looking for and applying knowledge to the real world. We’re excited to partner with Samsung to help even more educators and students discover the power of 3D printing.”

Europe has particularly high youth unemployment. Many young people leave education without the digital and soft skills that their future jobs demand. At the same time education systems are struggling to respond to the changing needs of employers. Some teachers also lack the support and confidence to adapt how they teach to match the increasingly digital world. To address these challenges, Samsung focused its European citizenship programmes on digital education and employability. It helps young people to experience how digital skills can open new doors to their future through two core programmes:

• Firstly, Smart Classrooms create new learning opportunities for 6 – 16 year olds. Since 2013, over 1,300 Smart Classrooms have opened across 20 countries in Europe. Samsung not only provide technology, but also offer educational content and teach digital skills, such as coding to students and teachers.
• The second programme, Digital Academies is Samsung’s targeted contribution to tackling the digital skills gap.  There are over 65 across Europe.  In these learning centres, 16 – 24 year olds can access smart technology, ICT training and employability programmes to help their transition from education to employment.

About MakerBot

MakerBot, a subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), believes there’s an innovator in everyone, and sets the standard in reliability and ease of use. As a global leader in the desktop 3D printing industry, MakerBot offers a set of solutions that illuminate and guide every stage of the 3D printing process, making it easy to go from idea to end result. Founded in 2009, MakerBot has one of the largest installed bases in the industry with more than 100,000 MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers sold to date. MakerBot also runs Thingiverse, the largest 3D printing community in the world. The company’s industry-leading customers include designers, educators, engineers, and consumers. To learn more about MakerBot, visit makerbot.com.

For fans of science, Serbia is well-known as the birthplace of many world famous scientists from Mihailo Pupin to Mileva Einstein to Milutin Milankovic. However, among these, the name that often first comes to mind when thinking about Serbia and its contributions to the scientific community is the inventor of the modern AC electricity supply system, Nikola Tesla.

Samsung Electronics Adria (SEAD) in cooperation with the Museum of Nikola Tesla in Belgrade, as well as the Institute for Educational Quality and Evaluation, recently organized the local corporate citizenship project ‘Be Like Tesla’ in celebration of the 160th anniversary of Tesla’s birth. With Serbia continuing to face economic challenges and the flight of young people abroad, the project was designed to invest in and raise a new generation of Tesla’s for the future of Serbia.

The ‘Be Like Tesla’ project incorporated multiple program elements designed to raise appreciation for Tesla as well as instill a passion for innovation among students.

‘Be Like Tesla’ Caravan Visits 17 Cities across Serbia

The ‘Be Like Tesla’ project first kicked off at the end of 2015 with the ‘Be Like Tesla’ caravan which toured 17 cities across Serbia over a one-month period. Driving into and parking at a conference hall in the various cities it visited, the caravan housed interactive lectures for students utilizing the technology tools of the Samsung Digital Classroom. All lectures were performed by the popular young Serbian actor Biojan Dimitrijevic, who playing the part of Nikola Tesla, taught children about his life achievements. In total, over 3,000 students visited the caravan during its tour throughout Serbia.

National School Competition and Exhibition at Kalmegdan

In 2016, the ‘Be Like Tesla’ project included a national competition for Serbian primary school students during May and June. Students were tasked to develop an invention inspired by the works of Nikola Tesla with about 150 schools from across Serbia taking part in the competition.

In the lead-up to the announcement of the winner, the ‘Be Like Tesla’ project also organized a major exhibition from June to July at Kalemegdan (aka, the Belgrade Fortress) in Belgrade. One of Serbia’s most important national symbols, the fortress is visited by upwards of 30,000 local and overseas tourists daily. At Kalmegdan, the exhibition featured 90 different panels on both the life and work of Nikola Tesla, as well as the projects of the national school competition finalists.

In addition, a demo of the Samsung Digital Classroom was also organized at Kalmegdan featuring exhibits from the Museum of Nikola Tesla leveraging Samsung VR and other technology.

The Grand Finale: Winner Announced on Tesla’s Birthday

On July 10, the 160^th birthday of Nikola Tesla, more than 5,000 people gathered at Kalmegdan to celebrate the winner of the national school competition. Dignatories on hand for the event included Sinisa Mali, the Mayor of Belgrade, other high-ranking state and city officials, representatives of the Nikola Tesla Museum, media, and Samsung representatives. During the proceedings, a live video stream from the Tesla Science Center in New York was also organized.

For the grand prize, primary school Mihajlo Pupin from Zemun, Belgrade was awarded for its project “Carousel.” The project featured operation of a toy carousel with a smartphone and sound recognition technology, leveraging wireless data transmission, one of Nikola Tesla’s inventions. As an award, the school and students received a fully-equipped Samsung Digital Classroom.

In addition, the jury also decided to award two more schools with Samsung TVs for their outstanding innovation and creativity including Sreten Mladenovic Mika from the city Nis for its project “Tesla’s Tower in Minecraft-u,” and elementary school IV Kraljevacki Battalion from Kraljevo for its video work, “Be Like Tesla.”

Following announcement of the winners, a Samsung representative also announced a three-year plan for continuing cooperation with the Museum of Nikola Tesla to further raise interest in science among Serbia’s youth leveraging the latest technology.

To celebrate both a great event and a successful project, the night also featured a special demonstration of a replica transformer, based on the model which Nikola Tesla constructed in Colorado Springs in 1899. The device uses modern technology and can produce voltages from 12 million volts, while its sparks can reach up to nine meters. The unique sight at Kalemegdan was watched live by thousands marking a striking end to a truly remarkable night.

“I heard that Samsung built and developed an R&D center for mobile technology in Vietnam. I really wanted to learn more about it,” said Le Xuan An, an IT student from Hanoi University of Science & Technology. His desire was fulfilled on May 14 when Samsung Vietnam Mobile R&D Center (SVMC) invited him to participate in SVMC Open Day 2016 – a program for IT students in Vietnam to learn about SVMC and get hands-on experience with Samsung technology.

The Open Day included more than 100 university seniors who dream of having careers in IT. The chance to explore the most cutting edge technologies of Samsung Electronics in Vietnam put smiles on everyone’s faces.

The event started at 8 a.m. All of the latest flagship mobile devices of Samsung were showcased to visitors in a presentation by SVMC engineers. For most, the highlight was the chance to experience the stunning virtual reality of the Gear VR. “It is truly spectacular. The Gear VR feels totally different from playing games on regular smartphones,” said one excited student after playing the game Temple Run with the Gear VR. They also sounded quite impressed by the unique features and aesthetics of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. “I believe the Galaxy S7 is the best smartphone ever,” said a student from Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology.

100 technology students from six universities enjoy a hands-on look at Samsung’s cutting-edge devices for SVMC Open Day

The event continued with an introduction to SVMC, beginning with an opening speech by Vice President Huh Chang Wan. This was the first SVMC Open Day, organized to welcome professors and students from six universities that have collaborated with Samsung in Vietnam. The students also enjoyed an opportunity to learn about the history and development of SVMC. Founded in 2012, SVMC has become Samsung Electronics’ largest mobile R&D Center in Southeast Asia (SEA).

During SVMC Open Day, students learn about Samsung Electronics’ history in Vietnam and engage in discussions about Samsung products and design philosophy. #1

During SVMC Open Day, students learn about Samsung Electronics’ history in Vietnam and engage in discussions about Samsung products and design philosophy. #2

Students then received an in-depth look into Samsung and SVMC technologies. SVMC’s business covers a wide range of mobile technologies and platforms, including software R&D, software engineering, mobile evaluation and network verification. The SVMC R&D region extends from Southeast Asia to Australia, New Zealand and Middle East. “How does Samsung conduct product lifecycle management?” and “What makes Samsung smartphones stand out?” were two major topics discussed between students and software engineers. In addition, “Be user-friendly”, “Think-outside-of-the-screen” and “Be an artist” were three key goals used by SVMC engineers on every project and for every model, creating the unique characteristics of Samsung smartphones.

Finally, students toured the SVMC offices. “It was so amazing to have the chance to see how software engineers work at a world-leading company. I hope I will get to join them in the near future when I graduate university,” said Quynh Trang, a student from University of Engineering Technology.

Mr. Huh Chang Wan (center), Vice President of SVMC Management, and students

Source: Vietnam Newsroom

A child in Chile experiences riding a boat through ancient Egypt, using the Gear VR

As part of its dedication to global citizenship activities and giving back to local communities, Samsung has been using the immersive Gear VR to bring exciting and unique experiences to many groups around the world.

With virtual reality, people can plunge into experiences that they ordinarily would not have access to, helping them to expand their horizons. By seeing and interacting with new VR landscapes, they can learn, have fun and engage with others.

Three recent programs demonstrated the power of the Gear VR – teaching children about ballet in Australia, helping the elderly celebrate Christmas in July in Australia, and presenting the exotic world of ancient Egypt to visitors to the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda (CCPLM) in Chile.

Dancing into Children’s Hearts

At Weave Youth and Community Services in Australia, young people there recently experienced a special four-day program to learn about ballet and even learn some moves, gaining inspiration through dance. The children got to try out movement workshops and experience ballet for themselves.

Students in Australia use the Gear VR to experience ballet

As part of the event, Samsung employees shared VR dance content with the students. For many of them, it was their first experience with the ballet. The students were encouraged to try out some of the dance moves they had seen and even create their own dance routines. The four-day event finished with a performance by the children for their friends, family and the community.

Celebrating Christmas in July

At Greenwood Cottage, a retirement facility and respite center, Samsung employees spent the day with residents of the center, many of whom have limited opportunities for social interaction and are living with cognitive decline and dementia.

At Greenwood Cottage, a respite center, residents celebrate Christmas in July

The theme for the day was “Christmas in July,” and the party events included a Christmas meal, presents, arts and crafts, a Christmas carol sing-a-long and a visit from Santa Claus.

In addition, the Greenwood residents were treated to a VR experience. They were able to enjoy waving at elephants, skiing and even meeting a dinosaur, all from the comfort of their day center.

The Gear VR lets the residents of Greenwood Cottage get out and experience the world, such as seeing elephants and skiing

“We work with them every day, so we can see how much this has meant to them,” said one member of the Greenwood Cottage staff. “I can see how much fun they had. It was very special.”

Ancient Egypt Comes to Chile

Imagine living in ancient Egypt, drifting along the Nile River, the pyramids towering in the distance. Thanks to a citizenship initiative by Samsung Electronics Chile, visitors to the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda (CCPLM) have been able to see for themselves what that ancient world was like, using the immersive power of the Gear VR.

Visitors to the CCPLM in Chile rave about the fun of riding a boat through ancient Egypt

Visitors to the Interactive Zone can virtually navigate the ancient Nile and experience it using digital animation, developed under the close supervision of curators and exports from the CCPLM.

The 3D virtual boat ride has become one of the most popular exhibitions, with long lines of people eager to experience life in Egypt. The guest book is full of praise, like “awesome,” “amazing” and “fun.”

At the opening ceremony, Chilean Minister of Culture Ernesto Ottone said that “any technology that can help bring people closer to culture is a significant contribution, particularly in younger generations who have such a visual approach.”

With the curators and experts of the CCPLM, an authentic look at real life in ancient Egypt has been a big hit with visitors

Due to the success of the initiative, Samsung Electronics Chile is already working on extending these efforts to other cultural areas, as well as preparing the contents for the next exhibit coming to CCPLM in September: Imperial China.

One of the most popular exhibits at the CCPLM in Chile is the Gear VR Interactive Zone

A sample of the ancient Egypt simulator from CCPLM in Chile #1

A sample of the ancient Egypt simulator from CCPLM in Chile #2

As a leading technology company, Samsung wants to help young people learn new digital skills and understand the internal mechanisms of their smartphone apps. The company is therefore touring Austria with the expert assistance of the Institute for Software Technology of the Graz University of Technology, giving children aged 8 to 14 a playful look at the world of programming and robotics. “We could no longer imagine our lives without software. It is the engine of our economy and now increasingly permeates our private lives as well. We therefore consider it essential to help children understand the digital technologies of the day in order to shape the future for themselves,” says Martina Friedl, Corporate Citizenship & Public Affairs Manager at Samsung Electronics Austria, on the motivation behind the campaign.

Coding Made Easy

In workshops about 3.5 hours long, the children use the Pocket Code App not only to learn the first steps of programming but also to create their own small apps. The method was developed by university professor Wolfgang Slany and his team at the Institute for Software Technology at the Graz University of Technology. “With Pocket Code, we want to inspire young people to create their own games and interactive stories directly on the smartphone or tablet. Thanks to intuitive, Lego-like programming, no prior knowledge is required,” says Slany. The students have a chance to put what they have learned to the test in the concluding Galaxy Game Jam competition.

Playful Programming for Students in Bregenz as Well

The mobile classroom will be visiting Bregenz starting on July 4th. A total of roughly 160 children are taking part in the workshops. To offer the children a change of scene from their usual classrooms, the workshops are held outdoors when the weather is nice, just a few minutes away from Lake Constance. A tent provides shelter and shade. The yellow school bus itself is not just the visual highlight of the exciting concept: Beanbags invite students to relax creatively, and tinkering materials allow them to build their own robots. Martin Bauer, head of the department II/8 – IT Didactics and Digital Media of the Federal Ministry for Education and Women, is enthusiastic about the initiative: “Programming is a cultural technology of our day. This gives children additional options for becoming producers of their own digital content and media. Programming strengthens digital competence as well as problem-solving skills and promotes logical thinking.”

Stops by the Mobile Classroom “Coding For Kids”:

Tyrol (Hall, Innsbruck), June 6-9

Salzburg (Salzburg city, Bad Hofgastein), June 13-16

Upper Austria (Vöcklabruck), June 20-23

Carinthia (Spittal), June 27-29

Vorarlberg (Bregenz), July 4-7

Styria (Graz), September 13-15

Burgenland (Oberwart), September 19-22

Lower Austria (Gänserndorf), September 26-29

Vienna, October 3-6

More information: http://www.digitalebildung.at

This exchange is just one of many thanks to the Samsung Smart School program which is successfully invigorating and improving education for the most disadvantaged of students by helping to bridge the IT accessibility gap in classrooms.

A Team Effort to Provide Opportunity for the Next Generation

Since 2012, Samsung Electronics has set up over 2,461 Smart School initiatives that offer students and teachers an engaging and collaborative environment in which to nurture the talent of tomorrow. In Portugal, the Samsung Smart School program has quickly launched to 13 smart classrooms including eight in schools or institutes and five in pediatric hospitals. Vidigueira Elementary School, which participated in the video conferencing class, was one of seven Smart Schools introduced in 2014.

The school is located in Alentejo, one of the most underprivileged regions in Portugal. For Vidigueira students, the opportunity to connect with fellow students a world away was a meaningful, eye-opening experience. Before the first video conference, one student, Rodrigo even confessed, “I am very nervous, because we have never spoken to anyone from a different country before.”

Students at the Vidigueira Elementary School anticipating saying hello to fellow Korean classmates a world away

At the Daeyanam Elementary School, located in the remote southern port city of Gunsan, where digital education tools are limited, the students shared the same nervous excitement, practicing English in preparation for their initial introductions.

In Alentejo, Portugal, the program, run in close partnership with the Gulbenkian Foundation and the University of Évora, has seen tremendous success rates in a region normally plagued by high dropouts. In fact, across the Alentejo region’s seven smart classrooms, the program has achieved a 100 percent success rate with all students advancing to the next grade. At Daeyanam Elementary in Korea, which faces constant challenges involving small school enrollment sizes, introduction of the program last year helped increase the number of students from six to 26.

Great Fun and Learning through Technology

After a few checks, and technology tools, including video conferencing and tablets, turned on at the Vidigueira and Daeyanam elementary schools, the class kicked off with the students greeting each other enthusiastically. The Gear 360 virtual reality camera was also used to capture the day’s fun.

The session was a time to learn new words like ‘hello’ (annyeong-haseyo, Korean) / (Olá, Portuguese) and ‘thank you’ (gamsahamnida, Korean) / (obrigado, Portuguese), as well as other Portuguese and Korean traditions. The students also spent time discussing how they are going to spend their summer vacations in their respective countries.

Students at the Vidigueira School listening to an introduction by a Korean student as captured by the Gear 360 virtual reality camera

Korean student, Eunchan Jeong, who led the Taekwondo session, said, “I really enjoyed making friends in Portugal and hope to have more opportunities like that in the future.”

Korean students at the Daeyanam Elementary School wearing taekwondo uniforms while waving hello to students in Portugal

Teachers at both schools, who led preparation for the video conference class, also spoke highly of the session and praised the effectiveness of the Smart School program, overall. Fátima Ralha, the project coordinator at Vidigueira, said, “As the project has evolved, the tablets have proven to be a fundamental resource for the students, helping translate to the 100% success rate.”

Daeyanam teacher, Eunkyung Jeong, said the introduction of Samsung Smart School has made the learning experience more interesting and creative for students and teachers alike, “encouraging the students to be more proactive and enabling teachers to provide feedback instantly.”

As the session came to a close, students and teachers on both sides of the video conference expressed how much they had enjoyed the experience, and their excitement for more high-tech opportunities to come.

Samsung Electronics today announced that HRH The Duke of Rothesay recently attended the official opening of the Prince’s Trust Scotland Centre in Glasgow, which was created to increase young people’s access to training and employment opportunities.

As part of the grand opening, HRH met a number of young people who have been supported by The Prince’s Trust Scotland, finding out about their journeys with The Prince’s Trust. During the visit, HRH participated in a range of activities including digital pancake cooking, robot building, puppet-making workshops and exploring the Samsung Digital Classroom.

In the last four decades The Prince’s trust has given over 825,000 disadvantaged young people the skills and confidence to find a job. Three in four young people who receive help from The Prince’s Trust move into work, training or education.

Samsung has been a supporter of The Prince’s Trust since 2012 through The Prince’s Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards and has been introducing Digital Classrooms into its Centres.  Each Digital Classroom, equipped with an interactive whiteboard, Galaxy tablets, PCs and digital cameras, creates an enhanced interactive learning environment and gives young people an opportunity to pick up vital digital skills.

Aleyne Johnson, Head of Government Relations and Citizenship, Samsung UK said:

“We are honoured to have received a visit to one of our digital classrooms from HRH The Duke of Rothesay. At Samsung, we are committed to enhancing the lives of young people through technology and for the last three years we have been working hard to establish Digital Classrooms at schools and youth employment centres across the UK, providing young people with access to the tools and technology they need to succeed, as well as teacher training and connectivity, with the aim of making lessons more enjoyable and engaging.”

Samsung is continuing to work closely with The Prince’s Trust to introduce technology initiatives, embedding digital and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills across its programmes. In addition to Glasgow, Samsung Digital Classrooms have been opened at The Trust’s centres in Stoke-on-Trent and Kennington in London.

About Samsung’s Citizenship Programmes

Samsung is committed to help close the digital divide and skills gap in the UK. Samsung Digital Classrooms in schools, charities/non-profit organisations and cultural partners provide access to the latest technology. Samsung is also providing the training and maintenance support necessary to help make the transition and integration of the new technology as smooth as possible.  Samsung also offers qualifications and training in technology for young people and teachers through its Digital Academies in London and Birmingham. These initiatives will inspire young people, staff and teachers to learn and teach in new exciting ways and to help encourage young people into careers using technology.

Find out more: www.samsung.com/uk/citizenship

Lack of access to quality education prevents millions of people around the world from escaping the cycle of poverty. In countries where classrooms are crowded, resources are scarce, and higher education and career opportunities are limited, many youth are dissuaded from pursuing their dreams.

Understanding the urgent need for education reform globally, Samsung advocates high-quality, youth-friendly education for all, with an emphasis on eliminating disparities of all kinds.

Working with local governments, members of academia and non-profit organizations around the world, Samsung has established numerous programs that aim to equip the world’s youth with the knowledge and skills they need to advance personally and professionally. Such programs, which have already touched the lives of more than a million people, make full use of Samsung’s technology—a component that holds the power to unlock an individual’s potential to the fullest.

From building IT classrooms in rural communities to engaging students in hands-on STEM learning, Samsung hopes to not only help individuals build great careers, but also to discover future innovations that will allow for a better tomorrow.

Samsung Smart Schools and Samsung Tech Institute are two of the company’s major ongoing citizenship programs that aim to enhance digital learning skills and thus ensure a brighter future for all.

Samsung Smart Schools: Powering Education with Technology

The Samsung Smart School program was designed to bridge the IT accessibility gap between social classes, and foster creative talents by providing interactive education that draws on digital devices. In addition, the curriculum of the program, created especially by Samsung, enhances the educational experience for students aged 6 to 16 by utilizing more effective—and entertaining—teaching methods.

Amelia Smith, a head teacher at Braunstone Frith Primary School in Leicester, notes that her students have been incredibly receptive to the program.

“The Smart School has shown us where we want to be. Samsung has helped us along the path we wanted to go, to enable all children to become independent learners.”

The environment of the Samsung Smart School not only allows students and teachers to better connect and communicate via tech devices, but also provides opportunities for marginalized students to build IT expertise, an essential employability skill.

Promoting Digital Education in All Corners of the Globe

Currently, Samsung is working to expand the initiative so that even more students can benefit from it.

In Germany, specifically, Samsung Electronics GmbH has emphasized the value of IT education and the importance of digital competiveness in today’s workforce. It has captured the attention of both the nation’s government and educational organizations through its implementation of various projects aimed at reforming less developed digital education.

Two of these projects include the Rethinking Digital Education program, which supports digital public education, and the Code Week Award, a training program that encourages Germany’s youth to creatively explore the possibilities of the future.

Samsung Smart School initiatives have also been established in 13 Latin American countries, where great focus has been placed on training teachers and building an effective digital curriculum, as well as throughout Russia.

Perhaps the most notable Samsung Smart School in Russia is located inside the Dmitriy Rogachev Federal Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology.

It is here that long-term patients can access a full curriculum developed by the nation’s most renowned professors, with Samsung’s electronic boards and tablets.

Patients who complete courses at the Samsung Smart School become qualified to take Russia’s Unified State Exam. They also receive the same graduate certificate they would from an ordinary school, meaning that unpredicted health setbacks don’t have to disrupt their studies—or their dreams.

At the Samsung Smart Learning Centers in Thailand, more than 80,000 students have participated and worked to solve social problems with digital devices. These students have also been provided with Samsung Discovery Kits to explore various career options.

Likewise, Korean students participating in Samsung’s Junior Software Academy utilize digital materials that help them to think logically and solve problems in a creative way, thus gaining leadership skills and discovering new passions.

“Before I took part in the Junior Software Academy, I didn’t have any particular dream for the future,” notes Yoo-bin Roh, an elementary school student and participant of the program. “Now, however, I have discovered two treasures: my dream of becoming a programmer and my ability to create great programs that can change the world.”

Samsung Tech Institute: Hands-On Training for Career Development

The Samsung Tech Institute, which currently operates 191 branches worldwide, was established to cultivate a young and talented workforce and spur job creation through hands-on IT job training.

The institutes are operated in conjunction with universities and local governments, and each is customized to meet the specific needs of the country in which it operates.

For example, programs conducted in developing markets might offer training for customer service engineers, while those in more economically developed countries are designed to support software experts.

Young people who have partaken in Samsung’s Tech Institutes have not only have had better employment opportunities, but are also now contributing to the development of their own regional communities.

In 2014, the company founded Samsung Campus, a two-year tech institute in France, to help non-graduates find employment.

Operated by ZUP de CO, an NGO supporting underprivileged youth and EPITECH, a specialized IT educational institute, Samsung Campus provides over 1,600 hours of curriculum, covering areas such as web design and mobile app development. In addition, the program offers coaching sessions and a one-on-one mentoring program with Samsung France employees, imbuing students with confidence and a better understanding of the business environment in which they will evolve.

Already, a large number of program participants have been accepted into long-term internship programs, while others are exploring career opportunities they never thought possible.

“I used to spend all day distributing my resume to different businesses. Now I am contacted regularly about jobs I haven’t even applied for,” notes one program graduate. “The Samsung Campus helped me regain confidence in myself—and my future. My professional outlook has completely changed.”

Securing Jobs, Instilling Confidence

Samsung also operates eight Samsung Tech Institutes in China—a country that has recently seen a growing interest in technology and job training. Like those in France, these institutes aim to foster a young and innovative workforce in order to help resolve youth unemployment and improve awareness about technical jobs.

The facilities offer service skill training to young people in association with the Samsung Electronics (Beijing) Service Company (SBSC). Many individuals who have completed the course currently work at SBSC as service engineers while others, like Ren Kang of Shaanxi Province, hope to pursue their own enterprises.

Kang traveled to Brazil in 2015 to compete in the WorldSkills Competition—a tournament in which China claimed first prize—but felt truly empowered only after attending the Samsung Tech Institute.

“While learning about my current job, I became more confident in what I was doing through feedback from my boss, as well as from customer compliments,” Kang explains. “Now I dream of opening my own product repair center, thanks to the Samsung Tech Institute.”

Through the continuation of programs such as Samsung Smart School and Samsung Tech Institute, the company hopes to continue to open doors to a world of new possibilities for all individuals, regardless of their geographic location, educational background or financial situation.