As 2022 has come to an end, this is a perfect time to look back to the successes we’ve had this past year in our partnership with Avanade, in providing laptops to underserved communities. Through the grant, numerous children and their families were able to gain access to STEM education and the digital world, as we excitedly take the next steps to further bridging the digital divide.
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STEM Compass
Over the past year, we’ve been proud to watch second-time recipient STEM Compass continue to grow and serve the youth in their community. They’ve run programs like “Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead,” and multiple coding workshops, enabling children to try their hands at robotics, coding, A.I., and many other STEM subjects that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Black Girls Do Engineer
Having received their second Avanade Grant, Black Girls Do Engineer was able to support a cohort of 60 girls who learned about Artificial Intelligence, environmental science, financial literacy, and robotics. In the past year, we’ve seen BGDE teach young girls who’ve competed and won in robotics and engineering competitions. To top it all off, the organization hosted a webinar with women working at Avanade, to inspire and motivate their students through providing them positive examples that they can see themselves in.
First Tech Fund
During the 2021-22 school year, recipient organization First Tech Fund was able to serve 86 students during their school year fellowship, 8 students during their summer photography program, and many more students during their 42 webinars throughout the school year. Having disseminated the 19 laptops they’ve received, the Fund is looking forward to this 22-23 school year that has just kicked off with even more growth.
Youth Represent
Youth Represent, providing legal assistance to youth of color, have been able to provide 8 laptops to their clients. Mike Pope, executive director, shares, “we have a client who has started her online business before [COVID] selling safe baby powder. The business was expanding, and doing well… and the client was using the computers at the library to run the business. With [COVID] closing the local libraries, and our client’s need to ensure safety for her and her daughter, she stopped being able to process orders. When we reached out to clients to find out if anyone needed a home laptop, she was the first to respond! She collected the laptop and has since reopened her online business. Thank you all so much for helping us make this happen!”
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Ryther
Ryther, a local Seattle organization, was able to use the desktop computer and 19 laptops to “[provide] exceptional therapeutic services to young people who are struggling emotionally and behaviorally,” as described in their mission statement. Since then, we’ve seen Ryther partner with a University of Washington and Washington State University research project funded by PetSmart, seen Ryther clients advocate for better accessibility, and seen the organization itself reorganize their residential treatment programs to improve care of their clients and staff.
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i.c. Stars
Caroline Miner, i.c. Stars Development Manager, let us know that the Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation benefited greatly from the grant, as it enabled underserved adults to develop the skills that they need to find and keep jobs in the tech-industry, particularly when they were systemically denied access to the technological resources needed for their development.
“The Avanade Tech Grant was integral for i.c. Stars, as we did not have any laptops secured for our new cohort, which began on August 8th. Thanks to Avanade’s generous donation of laptops, we were able to start one of our biggest cohorts in recent years (serving 23 individuals),” reports Caroline Miner, “the donations of the laptops have [had a] great impact on our program participants. Without these laptops, participants are unable to work and learn efficiently and effectively. Thanks to this generous grant, our program participants are able to learn the necessary technical, business, and leadership skills that set them up for success as they kickstart their careers in tech.”
American Muslims
The American Muslims organization was able to distribute laptops to help immigrants from Afghanistan adjust and thrive in the United States. Founder Sireen Malik shared stories from their recipients on their social media:
“Meet Murad Hassan. Murad is a bright and hardworking student currently doing a research internship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He is working on three projects which he intends to submit for publications in […peer-reviewed] journals. “This laptop will help me immensely and allow me to work from anywhere,” stated Murad in his application. Please join us in wishing Murad the best for his future. May Allah fulfill his dreams and reward him for his hard work. Congratulations, Murad Hassan!”
“SA [asked to use initials for privacy] is 13 years old and he is in sixth grade. This laptop would assist him to study efficiently and be successful at his school. He is hoping to become an engineer and build a free hospital for disadvantaged communities. Congratulations!”
“One of the students’ names is Homa Hafizi. She is 18 years old and immigrated from Afghanistan 8 months ago. She is in 12th grade and this laptop would assist her to better study in school and also in college for next year. Especially during Summer to practice her English skills. Homa is aiming to become a nurse and serve our communities. Currently, she is also helping kids with their math homework voluntarily at the House of Wisdom. Please join us in wishing Homa [the] best of her future. May Allah give her strength to [fulfill] her dreams!”
