The YMCA at Virginia Tech is expanding its digital skilling and inclusion programs in Blacksburg thanks to refurbished HP laptops provided through the HP HOPE program.
The initiative strengthens access to technology and future-ready skills for young people and community members who face barriers to digital resources.
The refurbished laptops will play a critical role in Powering EnginEquity Workshops, which offer hands-on coding and robotics activities using various platforms and expanding access for minority and underprivileged families.
“By ensuring diverse and underserved communities have equal access to high-quality STEM education, the YMCA fosters a passion for technology and innovation among youth who might otherwise lack these opportunities,” the YMCA announced. “The laptops will enable connections with global partners and deliver digital programming to international families, offering multilingual and culturally responsive content to engage a broader audience.”
“At the YMCA, we see every day how access to technology directly affects a young person’s ability to learn, work, and participate in society,” said Ryan Martin, CEO at the YMCA at Virginia Tech. “As the future of work continues to evolve, these devices help ensure young people have the digital skills, confidence, and practical experience they need to navigate a changing world of work and opportunity.”
The laptops are provided through HP HOPE, a global initiative promoting digital equity through responsible reuse, and will be integrated into the YMCA’s Digital Hubs, community-based programs and outreach initiatives. By combining access to devices with locally delivered programming, the YMCA at Virginia Tech will reach more learners and strengthen digital inclusion across its community.
This effort is part of a broader global collaboration between the YMCA and HP, supporting digital skilling through 520+ community-based digital hubs in over 23 countries worldwide. The expanded programming at the YMCA at Virginia Tech will launch in February 2026, focusing on youth, jobseekers, migrants and underserved families.
YMCA at Virginia Tech
