Life reinsurer Athene Holding Ltd is donating 200 laptops to the Bermuda public school system for the 2020-2021 school year. The donation aligns with Athene’s commitment to education-based initiatives in its communities as part of its broader corporate responsibility strategy.

It also supports the Ministry of Education’s strategic plan to modernise the public-school learning environment to ensure Bermuda’s youth have cutting-edge technological tools they need to participate in the global economy. Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, said: “In March when the Covid-19 shelter-in-place order closed all public school buildings, it quickly became evident many teachers did not have the adequate tools needed for remote learning.

“From March through June, many of our teachers were left to use their own laptops to facilitate class instruction. While this demonstrated how resourceful and dedicated our teachers are, the Ministry was acutely aware that we had a responsibility to provide teachers with the necessary resources.

“Thanks to this meaningful and generous donation from Athene Life Re, we will continue to modernise our learning environment and help our teachers and students achieve their full professional and academic goals. We appreciate the continued partnership with Athene Life Re, they have assisted us in the past with laptops for students and we are grateful to be able to extend the donation to include our teachers.”

Covid-19 has shed light on the important role technological resources play in ensuring children’s educations are not interrupted or negatively impacted. Athene has a long-standing commitment to education and continues its work to close educational gaps while supporting students and organizations.

“At Athene, we believe every child deserves an education and having access to educational resources, including technology, is imperative,” said Adam Laing, senior vice-president, chief financial officer and co-chief operating officer of Athene Life Re.

“A quality education is the foundation of a student’s future success and expanding access to tools and resources is just one of the ways we can empower Bermuda’s youth in their learning journey. We’re honoured to be part of the Bermuda community and proud to support Bermuda’s youth through the Ministry of Education.”