March 30, 2006

I.S. 232 Sixth Graders Get Free Home Computers

Text and Photos
By Bennett Silverman

Computers for Youth (CFY) has been a New York City-based non-profit organization since 1999. The group's chief growth officer, Kris Berger, explained, "Our mission is to close the learning gap between low income students and their more affluent peers by providing home computers, and using those computers to improve the learning environment at home."

Used computers are donated to CFY by major corporations: law firms, investment banks and media companies. The organization completely refurbishes each PC with a fully-licensed Windows 2000 operating system. Berger estimated that during the current school year, CFY will serve 2000 families in 14 public schools across the city.

I.S. 232 sixth graders left the course with a computer loaded with educational software, at no cost to them. In addition, the students will have Internet access, additional training and ongoing support to ensure the computers become a tool for academic success.

Berger said that her organization believes that the use of the computers at home will have a ripple effect in classroom learning and general achievements.

(Clockwise from top left) Students and parents get a lesson on Internet use. Eleven-year-old Zhan Duncan catches on quickly with a little help from 6th grade teacher Kerri Thompson; principal Ingrid Thomas-Clark is flanked by assistant principals Bernard Addo (left)and Donald Don; Student Keyana Hunte and her father, George, learn side-by-side; Principal Clark and CFY's Kris Berger are all smiles knowing they've accomplished something that will help sixth graders become better students.

After the event, Winthrop principal Ingrid Thomas-Clark said, "We are fortunate to have Computers for Youth as a program which allows each of our sixth graders to get a free desktop computer. We applied for the grant and we got it. We are in the dinosaur age when it comes to the use of computers. Many of our families do not have a computer at home and when they go to the library they have to wait a long time to get use of a computer, then they only get 20 minutes."

Thomas-Clark expects that having home computers will inspire students and motivate them to learn more.