Club Tech Offers Important Technology Skills to At-Risk Youth
More than 3,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States are helping young people gain skills for work and for life through Club Tech.
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| Wayne Dawson, Director, The Children’s Aid Society’s Dunlevy Milbank Boys & Girls Club |
Eight years ago, Bill Gates visited our Boys & Girls Club in Harlem to launch Club Tech, an ambitious partnership between Microsoft and Boys & Girls Clubs of America aimed at offering young people the computing skills they need in an increasingly technology-driven world. Today, more than 3,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States and on U.S. military bases worldwide have embraced the Club Tech approach, providing computer access and technology training to more than 1 million young people each year — many of them at-risk youth.
Our Club, known as The Children’s Aid Society’s Dunlevy Milbank Boys & Girls Club, continues to provide important after-school activities such as swimming, basketball and leadership training, as well as education and counseling for previously incarcerated youth. But today, technology also plays a central role in the activities of many of our Club’s 4,000 young members and their families. While most other activities are optional, all members must take a three-month course in computing that includes interactive online tutorials on basic office productivity skills such as how to use Microsoft Word and Excel.
The tech program isn’t just about helping boost performance in school, although many members say the tech training has made learning more interesting and improved their grades. And it’s not just about preparing for a job, although computing skills are essential to such tasks as writing a resume and doing a job search online. Tech skills are also important because they excite and empower young people. By connecting with friends through e-mail and sharing music and photos, our members build a sense of identity, confidence and inclusion that enables them to explore the world in a positive way.
Club Tech’s digital arts program enables students to express themselves creatively and learn new skills in Web design, digital photography, electronic music and video. One class posts video clips of Club basketball games on the Web, along with game scores and player bios. College scouts have watched those videos in the search for players to recruit.
Club Tech has been successful because it has integrated technology into a proven model for helping today’s youth. Last week, Microsoft’s role in this national effort — including its contribution of US$153 million in cash, software and curriculum — was recognized at Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s annual Northeast gala here in New York City, where Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer accepted the Champion of Youth Award for the company’s consistent and generous support.
This year, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Harlem Club’s founding, Club Tech continues to give new potency to our commitment to helping our youth develop the self-confidence and skills they need to navigate the challenges of adolescence and early adulthood.
