Courtesy United Way
The United States Census Bureau is celebrating National Technology Day on Friday by offering school children and adults the opportunity to learn about data, statistics and computer research through a variety of tools and games.
But what happens to those residents and students who don’t have access to a computer, or don’t know how to use it when they get it?
This is where the United Way of Utah County and its Digital Inclusion program bridges the “digital divide’ by providing computer/internet access and training.
“Digital Inclusion accomplishes the mission of United Way of Utah County by uniting those in our community through technology and helping community members become self-sufficient,” said Danielle Moran, United Way marketing manager. “This program helps improve their lives especially by providing critical skills for jobs, school, and other experiences that require digital literacy. Thus, leading them to find more ways to be financially stable.”
The program graduate 66 students this past year, but next semester there will be 80 new first semester students.
“Each of our graduates earns a computer, and we partner with Provo Library to give their graduates computers, making our number of donated computers 80-plus,” Moran said.
She added that United Way is opening two locations which will host classes, in Pleasant Grove and Lehi, joining Provo and Springville.
The program needs volunteers to help teach and run classes. Those interested can do so by emailing emilye@unitedwayuc.org to sign up.
“We teach our classes in Spanish, so this is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to practice their Spanish, expand their vocabulary, and get more experience helping others,” Moran said.
Participants are excited to share the opportunities they received through the program.
“I had the opportunity to take the Digital Inclusion class which gave a framework of progress, development and independence to me and each one of the students who have taken the class, contributing to enrich our lives to the point to achieve knowledge and personal satisfaction,” said one participant. “These classes update each student. We feel prepared, reliable and with new abilities acquired to achieve goals and understand the technology world. Which enriches society in all aspects.”
One program graduate noted that the class was a life-changing opportunity for them because they didn’t even know how to turn on a computer, and the class helped them understand and it motivated them.
Adrianna, a South Franklin resident, had the opportunity to take computer classes with other adults. Having not grown up with modern day technology and learning English as a second language, Adrianna felt she would never learn to use a computer.
However, with the help of the volunteers who ran the program, not only did Adrianna learn how to use the basic functions of a computer, she also learned how to backup files from her phone and set up her own Gmail account. She even took home a refurbished computer at the end of her course.
The satisfaction and rewards are not just coming to the students as the learn new technology, but to the volunteers who help make the classes possible.
“After 7 weeks of coming to class, doing homework, tests, etc. I hope and think that most of those in the class didn’t just learn how to use and assemble a computer, but that they learned that they CAN assemble a computer, that they CAN do these things and nothing should prohibit them from doing that,” one volunteer instructor said.
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