Maine’s digital equity goal is to help 50,000 families achieve digital inclusion by 2030, but give IT, get IT. can’t do it alone. To advance this mission, we decided to run a pilot program with the Alfond Youth and Community Center in Central Maine. Ninety-five students aged 8 to 12 in AYCC’s STEM program have been enthusiastically assembling 165 desktop computers for local disadvantaged families using give IT. get IT. recovered computer hardware and software tools. (Pictured above, AYCC’s Nathan Bernard is on site to receive 30 of the computer systems for use in the Build IT program)
The results have been so impactful that we’re creating materials to replicate this initiative statewide in schools and community organizations, inspiring hope and a brighter future for our students.
We aim to reach 2,000 learners yearly with our Build IT program in Maine public schools, YMCAs, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
A Snapshot report on the Summer 2024 Build IT Enrichment Program.Â
Details: Build IT Computer Club Year One Totals (September 2023 – August 2024)
How do we do it?Â
Our programs run through a six-step curriculum designed to help students with every aspect of building, understanding, and using a computer system. The steps are as follows:
1. Inside a Computer: Students explore a desktop computer’s interior, learn hardware components through simple analogies, and begin personalizing their PCs.Â
2. Data Storage: Students learn about data storage, compare traditional and solid-state drives, and successfully install a solid-state drive.Â
3. Introducing RAM: Students discover RAM’s role as the computer’s short-term memory, understand its function, and install it on the motherboard.Â
4. PCI Slots and Upgrades: This lesson covers PCI slots and the addition of hardware like Wi-Fi and graphics cards to enhance the computer’s capabilities.Â
5. Installing the OS: Students connect their computers to peripherals and install the Linux Mint operating system, setting up logins and internet connections.Â
6. Testing and Creativity: Students test their computers, learn about their environmental impact, and express creativity by decorating and packaging their PCs for distribution.
We’ve achieved a lot quickly, and we are excited about the momentum we’re building through give IT. get IT. and our ‘Build IT’ program. Our goals are not just to help students build confidence in themselves and comfort with the technology in their PC systems, but also to open up new educational and employment opportunities for them.
A Local Approach to Digital Inclusion and Equity
In today’s world, access to a computer and the internet is essential. Yet, over 60,000 households in Maine are still ‘Digitally Excluded,’ lacking high-speed internet or a reliable computer. This digital divide limits educational and employment opportunities for many families, hindering digital inclusion and equity.
Since 2002, give IT. get IT., a Maine-based nonprofit, has been working to close this gap. We have provided over 20,000 computers to families in need, helping them gain essential skills and resources. Our success is driven by volunteers and staff who recover, refurbish, and redistribute computers and offer free user support.
Our work, which promotes digital inclusion and equity, is supported by generous funders who recognize its importance. Currently, the components for each computer kit are provided at a low cost.
We aim to eliminate this cost for community partners through grant and partnership funding, allowing us to give computers [produced by partners in our ‘Build IT program] to those in need at no charge.
If you’re interested in this resource for your community, please reach out.
Chris Martin
Co-Founder and Operations Director
cmartin@giveitgetit.org
(207) 322-6257
Read more about Digital InclusionÂ
What do we mean when we talk about Digital Equity?
