Dell YouthConnect
People are changing the ways they connect ― and thereby changing the world. A truly globalized information technology infrastructure and those who build, run and use it are creating a new era. Dell seeks to prepare a generation of young people across the globe to connect by helping them learn how and when to use technology, and helping them to gain access to the right technology resources, to unleash each individual’s unique potential through technology. To bring this vision to life, Dell has launched a new signature program, Dell YouthConnect, designed to provide support for the educational and digital inclusion initiatives essential to success. To see our video click on one of the links below.
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In February 2009 Dell awarded its inaugural YouthConnect grants, totaling more than $3 million, to 12 charitable organizations in India, Brazil and Mexico — key emerging countries that have a strong need for youth access to technology. In September 2009, Dell added another $2 million to expand Dell YouthConnect to China. In December 2009, grants were awarded in Morocco, South Africa and the United Kingdom, and in January 2010 grants were awarded in France. The cash and in-kind grants support technology education for the youth and promote math, science and technology skills development. Dell assesses technology and infrastructure needs, in partnership with the recipient organizations, and awards strategic partnerships and employee-directed grants to meet their specific needs. Dell selects recipient organizations through an invitation-only process.
Dell YouthConnect Recipients
Strategic Partners — Dell YouthConnect's strategic partnerships are the cornerstones of Dell Giving's efforts in a region. Organizations designated as strategic partners receive a significant investment from Dell to pilot their programs for one year, with the intention of receiving multiyear grants. Dell chooses its strategic partners, based on the organization's track record of success in creating impactful, sustainable, large-scale programs that benefit as many youth as possible, and which have the capacity to expand further with Dell's investment. Each strategic partner will work with the Dell team to fine-tune its programs and define specific performance metrics. Grant recipients include:
Action for Children — Action for Children is creating a program to help staff and the young people they serve, by combining the use of social care and information and communications technology (ICT) in new ways. The program will provide support to six projects clustered in Greater London and Glasgow, each intensively supporting a key group of eight to 12 young people and providing wider benefits for 60-plus young people per project. (London and Glasgow)
Akshara Foundation — Akshara will increase its number of preschool centers to 171 and provide teachers with training in current teaching techniques. The program will also create a database of children served and track their progress into primary school. (Bangalore)
American India Foundation — The foundation's Digital Equalizer project will create 20 computer labs in underserved government schools and train teachers on their use. This project will also fund the development of a concrete outcome assessment program. (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi)
Center for Digital Inclusion (CDI) UK — The center is expanding to developed countries by changing its PC-based model to a hybrid model that incorporates smartphones. During a 12-month pilot program, CDI will develop and test a new curriculum in the UK and create the foundation for international expansion. (London, Glasgow)
China Education Development Foundation (CEDF) — Through their project-based learning program, CEDF will create 50 ICT classrooms in seven provinces to connect rural and urban schools in a replicable and sustainable student-centered collaborative learning model.
China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) — The Dell Cup robotics program, to be hosted by 10 Dell Learning Centers (DLCs) run by CYDF out of 25 DLCs in China, will teach science and technology while enhancing student creativity and confidence.
Center for Digital Inclusion (CDI) in partnership with Global Giving — For 14 years, CDI has empowered disadvantaged groups to use ICTs as tools to exercise their full capacities as citizens and tackle the issues that affect their communities. Dell supports nine CDI community centers in Brazil and 13 in Mexico. (Sao Paulo, Hortolandia, Porto Alegre; Mexico City, Monterey)
Fondation Agir Contre l'Exclusion (FACE) — The foundation is dedicated to developing and promoting innovative action to combat exclusion by enhancing education, training and employability. The program will provide vocational guidance, training and links to occupational internships to help 1,550 junior high students from economically disadvantaged areas make better choices on academic or vocational training. (France)
Learning Links — The organization works to promote digital literacy and 21st century skills, and to provide digital content to enhance student learning in science and math for youth, aged five to 17. (Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mohali)
Humana India — The organization's efforts will create one central and three satellite academies to rehabilitate and provide basic education and job skills to 450 working children, aged five to 14. (Delhi)
Humana South Africa — Three Humana Youth Centers will be equipped with a computer room and a multimedia lab to help 1,500 young people directly through assistance to pass grade 10 exams, training in basic computer skills and activities for vulnerable children through a Saturday Active Kids Club. In addition, the systems will be used to support programs that help reach 5,000 teenagers and children in the schools and surrounding communities with HIV and AIDS counseling. (Main Reef and Doornkop)
PlanetRead — PlanetRead provides reading practice for 300 million early-literate people through the use of subtitles on popular entertainment programs. This grant will fund single-language subtitling (SLS) for eight to 10 television programs for one year. (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad)
Sikshana Foundation — Sikshana will introduce computers and digital literacy to underserved children in rural schools. (Bangalore)
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) — TERI's Climate EduXchange will raise awareness about climate change among students across 10 states and engage them in research and activism through the use of ICT tools. The project will begin with three months of intensive background research by the TERI team. (Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Mohali)
The Institute Gustave-Roussy (IGR) — The IGR is a leading European anti-cancer center that will provide computer access and training to young patients to help them maintain their academics, play, learn, and socialize with friends and family. The program will impact more than 300 patients and their siblings. (France)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Denmark — Dell YouthConnect donated 160 laptops to UNICEF's Children's Climate Change Forum in November 2009. Dell recognizes that climate change is real and must be mitigated, and supports efforts to reduce global emissions to levels guided by evolving science. At the Forum, 160 young people from 44 countries had the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas and influence world leaders attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP15). The young attendees also engaged online with other children around the world. Following the forum UNICEF is distributing the laptops to selected young Climate Change activists who can continue championing young people’s views on this issue.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Morocco — Through 10 youth centers, established by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, UNICEF will provide access to IT for 6,000 young people. Five hundred of the young people will be specifically trained to develop their IT skills to help increase their employability. The program will particularly target those who live in the poorest and most vulnerable areas. (Casablanca and the surrounding area)
Employee-Directed Grants — Dell believes in supporting its employees and their community involvement. Dell provides financial grants to organizations with existing and meaningful relationships with local Dell employees. These organizations have typically received high levels of employee involvement and support. Grant recipients include:
Achieving Sustainable Social Equality through Technology (ASSET) India Foundation — ASSET India will create a computer literacy training center for the children of sex workers and girls rescued from trafficking. Students will train in basic computer skills, be matched with an internship program and be assisted with job placement upon completion of the training. The project will be implemented by a local partner, the Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA), and managed by the Supporting Medical Innovation for Life Enhancement (SMILE) Foundation, India. (Bangalore)
Bayti — Bayti is opening a new center in Casablanca to provide English, French and Spanish language skills training, information systems training, training in the offshoring field and high school tutoring courses for young people. (Casablanca)
Christel House India — Christel House's initiative will fund a middle school program, including academic performance monitoring. The program's goal is to improve literacy and numeracy test scores by 20 percent in the next two to three years. (Bangalore)
Christel House South Africa — Christel House's initiative in South Africa will supply IT for a new computer lab, for educators and for mini labs that support specialized programs in math, science, engineering and music. More than 600 young people will be impacted. (Cape Town)
Janaagraha — The Bala Janaagraha citizenship education program is aimed at empowering children with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to develop a sense of societal ownership and responsibility. Through interactive classroom sessions and technology-based project work, children discover the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in a democracy. (Bangalore)
Parikrma Foundation — Parikrma's project will create a computer center at one of the four schools run by the foundation. Dell has previously funded two of the foundation's other computer centers. (Bangalore)
Sci-Bono Discovery Centre — The Center will add a computer lab to support educational activities and training, including IT courses, supplementary tuition in math and science for youth, and math and science teacher training. (Johannesburg)
SOS Children's Village — Seven SOS Youth Village programs will provide computers and educator and student training to impact more than 600 students. The programs address IT skills and overall academic support. (Casablanca and surrounding area)
About Dell YouthConnect
Dell YouthConnect is designed to ensure that youth all over the world have access to relevant education and information technology. Dell YouthConnect will expand to include recipient organizations in China, South Africa and Morocco, as well as organizations in the United Kingdom and France that target underserved youth. Dell selects recipient organizations through an invitation-only grant process.
Other Inquiries
For information or inquiries about other Dell Global Giving grants, please email: dell_giving@dell.com.
Please note that Dell does not provide grants to individuals, academic or research projects, civic, religious or political institutions, capital campaigns, fundraising auctions, school fundraisers, sponsorships, scholarships, marketing opportunities or sports events and organizations.
