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Amsterdam’s low income residents can now get a laptop for €20!
From January, low-income residents of Amsterdam with a municipal discount card can get a laptop at the reduced price under a new initiative by digital learning centre Cybersoek.
Low-income Amsterdammers can get a laptop for just €20.
Beginning in January under a new initiative by digital learning centre Cybersoek, low-income residents of Amsterdam (the Netherlands), who possess a municipal discount card will be able to get a laptop at this massively reduced price, reported NU.nl last week. When they are done with it, they can either keep or return the laptop; and in the latter case they actually get their money back! What a fantastic scheme!
![Amsterdammers can also receive other forms of digital support. For the time being, only laptops can be donated, collection is possible from January.](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpGO9A3Q.jpeg)
Cyberbank: it’s like a foodbank, but for laptops
Residents of Amsterdam on a low income who possess a municipal discount card can pick up a laptop from January against payment of €20 (around $22.50). They can keep the device or return it after use — and in the latter case, they will get their money back.
The first so-called Cyberbank of the Netherlands opened on Friday 10 December in the Amsterdam East district, following the example of the food bank. Amsterdammers can also receive other forms of digital support. For the time being, only laptops can be donated, collection is possible from January.
Source: nu.nl
![“This also increases the gap between Amsterdammers who can use the internet and all digital possibilities and Amsterdammers who cannot, because they do not have a laptop or because they do not have access to it. about digital skills,](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpn8CnUd.jpeg)
Amsterdam is digitising at a rapid pace
The equipment is donated by companies, individuals and the municipality. It can be used or new laptops. Second-hand devices are refurbished by young people who would otherwise struggle to get into the labour market through traditional employment channels due to various reasons.
"Our city is digitising at a rapid pace, a development that has been accelerated by corona. This also increases the gap between Amsterdammers who can use the internet and all digital possibilities and Amsterdammers who cannot, because they do not have a laptop or because they do not have access to it. about digital skills," says Alderman Touria Meliani (Digital City).
The Cyberbank is an initiative of Cybersoek, an Amsterdam platform for "digital self-reliance". It’s unclear if more locations may open in the future.
Source: nu.nl
![Second-hand devices are refurbished by young people who would otherwise struggle to get into the labour market through traditional employment channels due to various reasons.](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpvoWTOL.jpg)