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The campaign, launched in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) under the theme "Donate to Educate," has successfully collected over 50,000 electronic devices.

This recognition coincides with World E-Waste Day, observed annually on 14th October, and is part of the UAE’s Year of Sustainability.

The event was attended by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of The Digital School’s Board of Directors; Dr. Hamdan Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Red Crescent; Saeed Al Eter, Assistant Secretary-General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives; members of The Digital School’s Board of Directors; and several senior officials and key partners of the initiative.

During the event, the major contributors to the success of the "Donate Your Own Device" campaign were recognised, including the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority (Dubai), Dubai Municipality, Emirates NBD, American University of Sharjah, Masdar, e&, Emirates, and DP World Foundation.

Dubai Police received the Digital School Sustainability Badge Flag for being the largest contributor to the "Donate Your Own Device" campaign, reflecting its commitment to both societal and environmental responsibility.

The event also highlighted the key achievements of the campaign, which collected over 50,000 electronic devices, equivalent to 120 tonnes of used devices. The reusable devices were refurbished, while the non-reusable ones were safely recycled.

Omar Sultan Al Olama emphasised that empowering underprivileged students with advanced learning solutions is a key goal of The Digital School’s initiatives worldwide. These efforts aim to provide future-oriented education, enabling new generations to acquire high levels of skills and knowledge to build a better future for their communities.

He noted that the initiative aligns with the leadership’s vision of promoting sustainability and has successfully reshaped education by offering a sustainable digital learning model accessible to students worldwide. This supports the achievement of sustainability goals related to education and the environment, as well as the humanitarian goal of reaching underprivileged students and creating a conducive learning environment in areas where educational opportunities are limited.

He praised the partners from government entities and private sector organisations that contributed to the success of the "Donate Your Own Device" campaign, which collected over 50,000 devices that were either refurbished or recycled. He added that The Digital School aims to continue and expand the campaign in the coming years to achieve sustainability and enhance digital education.

He confirmed that the campaign will now become a permanent initiative, allowing entities, institutions, and individuals to donate their old devices to provide learning tools for students globally.

Dr. Hamdan Al Mazrouei asserted that under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has prioritised education as the primary tool for achieving sustainable development and spreading knowledge and learning worldwide.

He highlighted that The Digital School is one of the pioneering educational initiatives launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It reflects the UAE’s commitment to advancing global sustainable development goals, particularly Goal 4, which focuses on ensuring quality education for all.

Dr. Al Mazrouei pointed out that The Digital School has introduced a transformative shift in online education by creating a cutting-edge education system that leverages information technology and artificial intelligence to meet the needs of students in underprivileged areas, including refugee camps and displaced communities. This has been made possible through strategic collaboration between the ERC and The Digital School, reaching students in 14 countries worldwide.

He also emphasised the campaign’s environmental benefits by repurposing donated computers and smart devices, which are used in The Digital School’s educational programmes. This contributes to the UAE’s Year of Sustainability goals by combining humanitarian and environmental efforts.

The "Donate Your Own Device" campaign aims to achieve educational, humanitarian, and environmental goals in line with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability. Environmentally, the campaign has prevented 120 tonnes of e-waste and reduced carbon emissions by 122,000 kilograms. It has also saved 170,000 litres of fuel, supporting the UAE’s efforts to reduce reliance on non-renewable resources.

The campaign has protected 32,000 square feet of land from toxic metal contamination caused by improperly disposed electronic devices.

In terms of its educational impact, the campaign has provided digital learning opportunities to thousands of underprivileged students in 14 countries: Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Mauritania, Lebanon, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Colombia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Mongolia. By addressing the digital divide, the campaign has equipped students with modern tools to pursue contemporary education.

The campaign has additionally supported the circular economy in the UAE by turning electronic waste into useful resources. Instead of discarding damaged devices, they have been recycled and repurposed to extend the life cycle of products, reducing the need for new resource extraction and minimising pollution.

The "Donate Your Own Device" campaign has received significant engagement from government entities, private enterprises, academic institutions, and community members, serving as a model for community partnership and collaboration across various sectors.

More than 100 institutions have participated in the donation efforts, with the campaign originally targeting 10,000 used devices to be refurbished or recycled after being collected from individuals and organisations. This educational, humanitarian, and environmental initiative aims to support the educational journey of underprivileged students at The Digital School.