Helping kids cross the digital divide

CFY leader Neil Spears gives personal tech support to kids and parents during a training event this winter.

A well-rounded education increasingly requires knowing how to use computers and the Internet. But the cost of equipment means students from low-income families can sometimes get left in the silicon dust. The nonprofit group CFY Los Angeles aims to bridge that technology gap, and is looking for volunteers to help serve San Fernando Valley schools.

CFY gives families home computers loaded with educational software and holds community training sessions to teach the best ways to use them. The group also maintains Power My Learning, an online site that curates the best educational activities on the web. CFY Los Angeles co-director Neil Spears said these efforts take education beyond the classroom.

“It is changing the whole learning dynamic at home. Eighty percent of our parents have no degree past a high school diploma. Now they can sit down with the student to help solve particular kinds of problems.”

Since the L.A. chapter of CFY opened its doors in 2008, it has brought its program to Los Angeles Unified School District schools in low-income communities, focusing on 6^th graders. This year alone, the group expects to serve 7,000 families at more than 30 area schools.

For teachers, part of the program’s appeal is an ability to monitor homework a little better. The minutes kids spend using the programs are logged and provided to teachers, parents and students.

Kids aren’t the only ones learning. Parents also are using the service to educate themselves, said Spears.

Of course, the benefits of having a home computer go beyond education. With Internet access, tasks like paying bills and communicating with loved ones also become easier. The program doesn’t currently help families get discounted Internet service rates in L.A., as it has elsewhere. But it has prompted many sign up on their own, Spears said.

“These days, you need a computer and the Internet just to apply for many jobs,” said Spears. “The Internet is as essential today as having a phone was 30 years ago.”

Elisabeth Stock, a former White House staffer, founded CFY in New York in 1999 after noticing piles of government surplus computers gathering dust. Since then, the organization has provided home computers to more than 50,000 families. Formerly known as “Computers for Youth,” the organization changed its name to CFY last year in recognition of the fact that hardware is only part of the service it provides.

Interested volunteers can help CFY Los Angeles conduct training classes at Madison Middle School in Van Nuys on Saturday, March 10, and Saturday, April 14, or at San Fernando Middle School on March 17. To sign up and get more details, email [email protected].

Volunteers show up for orientation at 8 a.m. for morning sessions and 11:30 a.m. for afternoon sessions. They help families attending the four-hour workshop by assisting with individual issues and providing a more personal experience. No technical knowledge is needed, and volunteers receive a free T-shirt.

For another way to help, CFY is always looking for old desktop PCs to refurbish. Businesses interested in donating outmoded technology should email Neil Spears at [email protected].

Posted 3/7/12