CompuCorps.org Announces Microsoft Donation for Aboriginal Youth Computer Program

The TechFeather program – Access to Technology for Aboriginal youth – was awarded a software donation from Microsoft Canada for 1,000 computer systems and 25 servers

Ottawa, Ontario – June 9, 2010 – The high tech charity CompuCorps.org (CompuCorps Mentoring/ Les Mentors de CompuCorps) is pleased to announce a software donation from Microsoft Canada for 1,000 computer systems and 25 servers to support its national program – TechFeather. The TechFeather program will provide Aboriginal youth with computers and technology for the support of home work, volunteer mentoring, skills development, and employment opportunities. The donation is part of Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential – Community Technology Skills Program. The computers will be refurbished and setup in labs for Aboriginal Friendship Centres across the country.Bill Marvel, Executive Director of CompuCorps.org, stated that “this partnership with Microsoft will not only guarantee brand-new and licensed Windows 7 software for Aboriginal youth that have limited access to computers but would also leverage our capacity to interest new corporations and foundations to join the TechFeather program”.

The biggest challenge for CompuCorps now, according to Bill, is “to get donations of high quality surplus laptops from corporations and multiyear operational grants from national foundations interested in supporting Aboriginal youth initiatives.” Laptop donation agreements so far include those with the Ottawa Police Service and Cisco Canada. Adobe Canada, HP Canada and De Beers Canada are also partners in the TechFeather program.

Over the next two years the TechFeather program is expected to deliver 1,000 computers to support Aboriginal youth across the country in cooperation with over 100 Aboriginal and Native Friendship and Community Centres. “We are also proposing to connect these Centres through teleconferencing systems to volunteers at their corporate offices to encourage Aboriginal youth to stay in school and to increase their interest in areas such as Science, Engineering, and Mathematics,” says Bill Marvel.

Pamela Dunn, who manages the Wasa-Nabin Youth Program, says that “it would be very helpful if there were more organizations like CompuCorps to help Aboriginal youth.” She states that programs like the one she manages can benefit greatly from technology support “because without the lab we received from CompuCorps’ TechFeather program we wouldn’t be able to support our youth community”.

Lydia Belanger, Employment and Training Counselor for Odawa Native Friendship Centre, says that the computers donated through the TechFeather program with software from Microsoft “are being used to prepare resumes, search for jobs on the Internet and offer training to our Aboriginal youth”.

The TechFeather program will improve the situation of Aboriginal youth in Canada. The shocking statistics about Aboriginal youth speak for themselves: the levels of suicide are 7 times higher; incarceration levels are 8 times higher and the level of high school failure reaches up to 70% for students on reserves. For more information on how to support the TechFeather program please visit http://www.TechFeather.org or call (613) 234-8988 extension 116 or 111.

CompuCorps.org (http://www.CompuCorps.org) has delivered over 100 technology projects to other Canadian charities since its founding in 2000 and has over 250 TechMentors™. Its charitable mandate is to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of charitable organizations in Canada by the provision of technical volunteers, low cost computer, services and software as well as technical support and training. The CRA charity registration for donations is # 86411 9094 RR0001.

For more information, please contact

CompuCorps.org
Media Contact: Antonio Marinho
613-234-8988 x 116
info@compucorps.org
http://www.compucorps.org