Vodafone Expands “Instant Network Schools” for Refugees in Egypt with UNHCR
In line with their ongoing commitment to advancing digital inclusion, enhancing education quality, and developing sustainable local solutions, the Vodafone Egypt Foundation and Vodafone Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), announced the expansion of the Instant Network Schools (INS) program in Egypt.
The latest phase of the initiative adds 22 new digital schools in Sharqia Governorate, bringing the total number of schools under the program to 70 across four governorates by the end of 2025. The program currently benefits over 100,000 refugee and host-community students in Egypt.
To mark the milestone, the Vodafone Egypt Foundation organized a field visit on October 28–29 to the Instant Network Schools and Advanced Engineering Industries (AEI), which plays a key role in manufacturing the locally produced tools used in the project. The visit brought together representatives from Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Egypt Foundation, and UNHCR to showcase the program’s impact on digitizing classrooms, empowering teachers, and building a modern learning environment that equips children and youth for the future.
Among the participants were Nick Land, Chair of the Vodafone Foundation Trustees; Lisa Felton, CEO of Vodafone Foundation; and Alban Kurktan, INS Program Advisor. From Vodafone Egypt, attendees included Eng. Mohamed Hana, Chair of Vodafone Egypt Foundation; Ayman El Saadany, External Affairs Director at Vodafone Egypt; and Shahdan Aram, Secretary General of Vodafone Egypt Foundation. Representing UNHCR were Shirin Bakfar, Head of Private Partnerships and Philanthropy, and Dr. Hanan Hamdan, UNHCR’s Regional Representative to Egypt and the League of Arab States.
Launched in 2013, the Instant Network Schools program is a collaborative initiative between Vodafone Egypt Foundation, Vodafone Foundation, and UNHCR that transforms traditional classrooms into connected, technology-enabled learning environments powered by solar energy, internet access, and multimedia resources. Since its inception, the program has reached over 382,000 students and 6,800 teachers across six countries—including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Egypt.
In Egypt, the program currently supports 48 schools in Giza, Alexandria, and Damietta, and is now expanding to include 22 additional schools in Sharqia, reinforcing its mission to provide equitable access to education and drive the digital transformation of schools nationwide.
The Instant Network Schools program in Egypt also serves as a model for digital inclusion and local innovation, enhancing both teaching and learning environments. Through its partnership with AEI, the program manufactures its smart classroom kits locally, embodying Vodafone’s commitment to localization, innovation, and sustainable development in Egypt’s education sector.
