Many countries have a severe lack in computer literacy, and the poorest countries have no access to computers at all. Computers are an important element in creating a strong society, as computer literate people can get higher paying jobs and can follow more opportunities. Those who learn how to access the Internet and email can also build communication links with people all over the globe.
Providing computers and computer literacy to underdeveloped countries is a hard task, as there is much involved. But at the WCO we believe that this task is well worth the effort.
We aim to help provide the following items to various underprivileged children (and we also accept donations of such items):
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Tested and working computer monitors
- Computer hardware, tested and working (e.g. video cards, sound cards, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, CD-read-write, DVD-ROM drives, PCMCIA cards, etc)
- Peripherals such as a mouse or keyboards
- Support hardware and desktop items (surge protectors, speakers, scanners, mouse pads, connection cables, etc)
- Licensed software - unopened and packaged preferred (e.g. Microsoft© Office products - Excel, Word, Outlook, Powerpoint, and FrontPage - Windows 1998/2000/XP, Adobe© Photoshop, Acrobat, etc)
- Educational materials (e.g. books relating to computer programming)
- Financial donations
Our world is an increasingly technological one, and we can’t afford to have any of our children left behind. If they are, they will never be able to escape the bonds of child labour, neglect, and lack of education that abounds in their lives. Computer literacy will help equip children with the skills to set themselves free from poverty once and for all.
Many people underestimate the importance of computer literacy in the modern world. It is a sad fact, but not knowing how to use a computer can mean less opportunity for children to get a good job – or any job – when they leave school. More and more major and small companies are relying on computer technology for their data-basing, accounts, marketing, and publishing. Without the skills needed to work with these applications, children in poor countries don’t stand much of a chance of improving their lives. And that’s where the WCO aims to help.
However, it should be noted that the benefits of teaching children how to use the computer are more than just improving chances of employment. Children can gain access to materials and information on the computer that would otherwise be too expensive for their local library or school to supply. The option of taking online classes is also available, and this can help improve the educational standards of many children, without the cost of running and maintaining a building, which would traditionally be needed for such activities.
Children all over the world are using computers in their daily lives. They use them to learn, find out more about the world around them, and to communicate with people all over the globe. At the WCO, we believe that even children from the poorest districts of the world deserve to have these facilities and opportunities too.
It is a known fact that every person is different and children are no exception. Each child holds within them a spark of potential, and that spark can be encouraged by providing the tools for children to search and discover, using their own initiative. The Internet, online resources, email, and chat rooms give children supervised independence, which allows them to explore their interests in a safe environment. It also means that children are free to explore avenues of interest that are different from their peers, and that they aren’t confined to the same subjects as everyone else. In other words, they have the choice – and the ability – to seek out further information on the topics they choose. And a happy, learning, and content child will grow to become a useful member of society.
At the WCO we believe that the community looking for help should become involved in each and every project in their town. That’s why we ask for the communities to come up with half of the resources, and we will contribute the rest. It is important that villages get involved, as they need to show that they care about computer literacy and that they want to help change the future of their town. For any town interested in a contribution from the WCO, please fill in the form below:
Initial Application Form – Help from the WCO
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| Contact Address |
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| Contact Telephone Number |
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| Contact Email Address |
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| Name of town |
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| Why do you want the WCO to help your town? |
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| What are you able and willing to contribute to the improvement of your town? |
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