Dell YouthConnect
The way people connect and communicate is changing and it is changing the world. A truly globalized information technology infrastructure and those who build, run and use it are creating a new era — the Connected 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, gain access to the right technology resources and understand how 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 in the Connected Era.
Dell awarded its inaugural Dell YouthConnect grants, totaling more than US $3 million, to 12 charitable organizations in India, Brazil and Mexico — key emerging countries that have strong needs for both humanitarian aid and technology access. The cash and in-kind grants support technology education for youth up to age 17, and promote math, science and technology skills development. Dell assesses technology and infrastructure needs together with the recipient organizations, and awards strategic partnerships and employee-directed grants to meet their specific needs.
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.
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 multi-year grants. Dell chooses its strategic partners based on organizational track records of success in creating impactful, sustainable and large-scale programs that benefit as many youth as possible, and 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:
Akshara Foundation — Akshara will increase its number of pre-school 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 in their use. This project will also fund the development of a concrete outcome assessment program. (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi)
Center for Digital Inclusion (CDI) in partnership with Global Giving — For 14 years CDI has empowered disadvantaged groups to use information and communication technologies (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)
Learning Links — The organization works towards promoting digital literacy and 21st century skills, and providing digital content to enhance student learning in science and math for youth aged 5-17. (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 5-14. (Delhi)
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 8-10 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 Resource 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)
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:
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 and be assisted with job placement upon completion. 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)
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 percentage points in the next two to three years. (Bangalore)
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)
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 e-mail: 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.