greenBYTE

Project Access, connecting kids to the future Child Connect Program, Dealing with the Digital Divide


	Technological advancement has been surging ahead at an unprecedented speed, and computers and the Internet are becoming omnipresent in virtually every facet of our lives. While this global technological revolution continues to advance and broaden, millions of children and youths, primarily from low income families, are being left behind. This Digital Divide has a potentially devastating long-term effect on today's youth. In many low-income neighbourhoods, access to computers and the internet is limited or non-existent. An entire generation of young people may experience difficulties in competing fully in the labour market because they are unable to gain the skills, experiences and resources needed to succeed in our modern age of technology due to socio-economic factors.


		In 2003 and 2006, greenBYTE received support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to distribute computers to families in the Hamilton area. In order to further enhance this initiative and to ensure inter-connectivity is made available to families receiving a computer system, the Hamilton Community Net has allocated resources to supply access to the Internet. To date we have distributed in excess of 1500 computer systems and hope to distribute an additional 600 computer systems to families in the Hamilton area by 2009.
	All donated computers are given to youth serving organizations in the Hamilton area at no cost to the recipient, with no cost support and repair for the life of the computer through our Child Connect Program, or Are made available to families in the Hamilton area, who need a computer and may not be able afford one through our Bridging the Digital Divide Program. Each recipient in this program is asked to pay an administrative fee to cover the cost associated with computer refurbishing and software installation. This administrative fee allows us to maintain and grow our service to the community. greenBYTE is a part of a registered charitable, non profit organization.