World Computer Exchange

CONTACT:

936 Nantasket Avenue
Hull, MA 02045
781-925-3078
worldcomputerexchange.org

Timothy Anderson, President

DESCRIPTION:

WCE was created in 2000 by Tim Anderson, a mid-career student at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG). He had learned that 250 million computers would become obsolete in the U.S. from 1999-2005, and his fellow KSG students from developing countries were saying that their homelands, especially schools, needed to bridge the digital divide and connect their youth to the Internet. Applying the former to the latter was fairly obvious, but how could it be done well and cost-effectively? Tim figured all that out, and WCE is today the largest North American charity providing computers overseas — over 24,000 so far. They have 355 formal partner organizations in 53 developing countries. Project plans are posted on WCE’s website. They have 600 volunteers: 145 in-country program officers, assisting the partner organizations in project planning, fundraising, training, implementation, and evaluation; 300 in 30 U.S. cities gather sister schools, more volunteers, press, funds, and computers; 75 offer online consulting services in e-waste disposal, partnership development, technology, local content development, digital libraries and telecenter management; 75 advise on educational development. All this will no doubt grow and evolve, and you can share the innovation.

(2006: INTERNATIONAL)