Habitat for Humanity, is an organisation that helps low income families build and buy homes across the USA. In an attempt to stop poorer children falling behind their richer contemporises, together with Redemtech Incorporated, an asset recovery business, Habitat for Humanity have started a scheme to provide low income households with computers. All of which are ones that in all probability, would have been thrown away.
The CEO of Habitat’s Chapter in Columbus, Ohio explains. “Helping these families to be successful involves a lot of different things. Helping the children of those families to bridge the digital divide is hugely important.”
The scheme operates by using computers that are cast aside by firms when they update their hardware. Many of these machines are still usable, so after a little tweaking and software installation, are distributed to families that have applied for one.
As an added bonus, the computers come with 90 day tech support. For a family to be eligible for a computer, the family has to undertake classes to use the PC.
After a successful pilot project in Ohio, the scheme has been formalised by Habitat for Humanity and Redemtech Inc. and will be rolled out to the rest of the country.
