The concept of computer labs as the only answer for bridging the digital divide
is obsolete. Disadvantaged kids, starting at a the preschool level, need a
computer in their home in order to have a chance at parity with their more
affluent counterparts. RECA Foundation uses recycled older computers for this.
We provide an assessment of every families computer experience.
Many we recommend that they start with the stand alone Beginning Computer, much
like the books we give to children to read. It has 21 educational games and a
security system that doesn't allow the user to add or delete the programs.
Therefore a parent doesn't have to teach or supervise when a three year old is
using this computer. This is critical in our area where we have a number of
Migrant Worker Families that only speak Spanish, and only have a 2nd grade
education. They don't have the ability to teach their children math or reading.
We also recycle a Internet Ready Computer usually a Pentium II, using Windows
2000 operating system, and Open Source software. We have an ISP that provides
us with donated Internet Accounts for 6 months while they are learning to use
e-mail and the Internet. RECA provides the training, maintenance and upkeep of
these computers for the low income families for 1 1/2 years for no extra
charge. One case was a Hispanic man from Mexico, deaf, and until we got him a
computer we didn't know that he was illiterate and couldn't finger spell. He
needed to be able to do video conferencing so that he could communicate with
his friends in Mexico via sign. He's had the computer for over 1 1/2 now, he
brings it in to get rid of the virus's every month, and you can see him typing
with 3 fingers instead of 1 these days. He just recently brought a friend that
is deaf to get a computer from us.
Bridging the Digital Divide one child and one family at a time!
Ronda Evans
RECA Foundation
5210 W. 4th Ave.
Kennewick, WA 99336
509-543-2910
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
tcfn.org - connecting people to technology4people.tcfn.org - connecting people
to resourcescalendars.tcfn.org connecting people to activities
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