AWS, Amazon’s cloud computing division, has introduced the Education Equity Initiative, a $100 million, five-year commitment to empower education organizations in underserved communities with cloud technologies. The program aims to support the creation of digital learning tools and improve access to computer science education.
Unlike earlier efforts focused on direct teacher and student training, this initiative emphasizes equipping nonprofits with resources to build localized educational solutions. Tom Berry, from AWS’ Social Impact and Responsibility team, noted this approach stems from insights gained through collaborations with groups like Code.org. The goal is to enable organizations to develop tools for teaching coding and computer-related skills within their communities.
The program has already piloted with 50 organizations across 10 countries. For example, India’s Rocket Learning uses AWS QuickSight for evaluating educational content effectiveness, while Code.org launched an AI-powered teaching assistant to help educators, many of whom lack formal computer science training, navigate project-based learning.
This initiative complements AWS’s existing programs like Amazon Future Engineer and AI/ML scholarships, furthering its mission to close the education gap and enhance digital literacy worldwide.
