When Rosina Fosua Acheampong received a laptop through the Vice-Chancellor's One Student, One Laptop (SONSOL) initiative, she thought she had gained a device to support her studies. She soon discovered she had gained much more.
Today, the final-year Land Economy student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) credits the initiative with opening doors to accommodation support, food assistance and a scholarship, transforming her university experience beyond what she had imagined.
"Right from receiving the laptop, I was given accommodation, and I was always fed through the Food Bank until I received a scholarship from the MTN Foundation. SONSOL gave me exposure to all these benefits."
Rosina's story illustrates how what began as a digital inclusion programme has evolved into a broader platform for student support.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson, launched the One Student, One Laptop (SONSOL) initiative in late 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the digital inequalities facing many students. As universities shifted to online learning, students without laptops risked falling behind simply because they lacked access to the technology required for virtual education.
With support from corporate organisations, alumni and other benefactors, the initiative has since distributed about 4,000 laptops to financially disadvantaged students, helping to bridge the digital divide and improve access to teaching and learning.
For many beneficiaries, however, the laptop is only the beginning.
One of the initiative's defining features is the visibility it gives students. During laptop presentation ceremonies, selected beneficiaries share their personal stories before donors, corporate partners and invited guests. These presentations often inspire individuals and organisations to extend additional support through scholarships, accommodation, mentorship and other forms of financial assistance.
Rosina became one of those beneficiaries.
What started as the presentation of a laptop led to accommodation support, meals through the University's Food Bank and, eventually, a scholarship from the MTN Foundation.
The laptop itself has also become an essential academic resource.
"I am using the laptop for my final-year project work now. I also join online classes and submit assignments with it," she said.
The Directorate of Student Affairs (DoSA) coordinates the initiative by identifying financially disadvantaged but academically promising students through a rigorous selection process. Beneficiaries are then matched with donors during presentation ceremonies, creating opportunities for long-term support beyond the initial laptop donation.
The initiative has gradually evolved from addressing digital exclusion into a broader student empowerment programme, connecting beneficiaries with networks of individuals and institutions willing to invest in their education and future.
Story: Eunice Odumaa Asare
