EduAct: We combine technology with education for future generations

In a world where technology is omnipresent, digital education is no longer an advantage. It is a necessity and, unfortunately, Romania starts with a major disadvantage. According to Eurostat (2023), only 27% of Romanians have basic digital skills.

And in rural or disadvantaged areas, the percentage is even lower. This means that most young people know how to “scroll” and “like”, but they do not know how to protect their data, how to create digital content or how to use technology as a tool for personal development.

This digital divide affects children from vulnerable backgrounds the most. Where the lack of resources and support makes the future an unknown. It is the reality that motivated us to build Buletin Digital, which we implement in educationally vulnerable schools, according to World Bank analyses.

Between reality and paradox

We live in a paradoxical reality: we are connected to the internet, but disconnected from the use of technology. In many schools in Romania, children come to school every day with phones in their pockets, but they don’t know how to write an email, create a document or protect their personal data online.

For these children, EduAct created the Buletin Digital program, which was recently joined by the Orange Foundation. It is an initiative that goes beyond the promise of “digital education”. It is a program designed to provide tools, contexts and trust, three ingredients that bring everyday applicability to the ICT learning process.

A need and an answer

Buletin Digital was born from a simple question: what happens to students who have the internet, but have no notions of online safety? Who only understand social media through the internet? Who use smartphones, but don’t know how to send an email?

In the 2024–2025 school year, Buletin Digital reached over 170 students in the middle school cycle, in Călărași county. The project aims to become a replicable model in other counties and contribute to a systemic change in terms of digital education in Romania.

Why is this type of education vital?

Without functional digital skills, the risk of social exclusion, labor market failure or school dropout increases exponentially. In Romania, over 40% of children in rural areas do not have constant access to digital devices or adult support to use them educationally (Salvați Copiii, 2023).

Through bimonthly interactive workshops, with a methodology designed specifically for middle school students, the program helps children transform technology into a long-term ally.

The Orange Foundation is a non-profit organization that gets involved in community life by carrying out philanthropic projects aimed at bringing positive changes to the lives of disadvantaged people. In its 13 years of activity, the Orange Foundation has invested over 10 million euros in digital education projects for disadvantaged people and in health, education, and culture projects for the benefit of people with visual and/or hearing impairments, with the aim of their social inclusion. The foundation’s main programs are: “Orange Digital Center”, “Digitaliada”, “Support an NGO”, “The World through Color and Sound”, “Solidarity FabLabs” and “Digital Center for Women”. For details, visit www.fundatiaorange.ro.

The “Support an NGO” program is a fund that provides financing for philanthropy projects proposed by Orange employees and developed together with a non-profit organization, so that they can learn to coordinate a project, learn to look for alternative sources of financing for projects they believe in, learn to communicate a project, develop the ability to identify solutions to basic social problems, and increase the degree of personal satisfaction.

EduAct is a non-profit organization that implements educational programs in educational units identified by the World Bank as having low academic performance. We develop programs adapted to each educational cycle: Present! For the Future – supports literacy and numeracy for primary school students; Digital Bulletin – develops basic digital skills for middle school students; Vocational Compass – provides career guidance and learning experiences for high school students. EduAct programs are designed to reduce school dropout, increase student motivation and connect formal education with life skills and jobs adapted to the social context. In the 2025-2025 school year, EduAct supported 1536 students through the three programs it implements. Every year we grow with the support of our partners – companies that understand that sustainability means investing in education.