The Tribune

“WE remain committed to youth development in The Bahamas beyond the football pitch,” explained Anton Sealy, president of The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) as they presented 100 tablets complete with MIFI devices to The Ministry of Education.

As COVID-19 forced schools in The Bahamas, and indeed the world, to convert to virtual learning platforms, the BFA recognised that many of its players have been challenged to access their new online classrooms.

As such, the Association sought support from FIFA and subsequently partnered with Aliv to purchase and donate the tablets to benefit disadvantaged students across the country.

“We at The Bahamas Football Association, along with our member clubs, decided to do something to assist the most vulnerable and severely impacted members of our constituents in football, that being our school age players and more so, those without the capability to effectively participate in the virtual learning process,” explained Sealy. “We trust that these devices will go a long way in supporting the educational needs of our young student athletes.”

Minister of Education, Jeffrey Lloyd was on hand to receive the donation.

Minister Lloyd expressed gratitude to the BFA.

“We will not stand by and let any child get left behind. As such, we are so grateful for the philanthropy and partnership of the BFA for its support of our virtual learning programme through the donation of these tablets.”

The Minister explained that the donation moves the ministry that much closer to its goal of making virtual learning accessible for every Bahamian student.

Said Matthew Davis, mobile sales manager for Aliv: “At Aliv we are committed to innovation and technology and we are happy to be able to support the education of our young people.

“Giving back is an important part of who we are at Aliv,” Davis said.

“These 10-inch tablets are intuitive and user-friendly with a convertible keypad and with the MIFI devices, students can access the network at high speeds from anywhere in The Bahamas.”

Both the Ministry and the BFA acknowledged the invaluable partnership of Aliv as vital to bridging the gaps that exist for those most disadvantaged in our communities.

In addition to Sealy, The Bahamas Football Association’s executive vice president, Anya James and Carl R Lynch Jr, deputy general secretary, were also on hand for the presentation to the Ministry of Education.