Access to technology is extremely limited in developing countries like Uganda. Although most American children know how to use a computer by age 8, the average 16 year old AGYA participant does not know how to type their name, browse the internet, or send an email. Recognizing this need, AGYA has been working tirelessly to launch our computer lab, which will provide Ugandan youth with basic computer literacy skills and access to technology.
Since opening our doors to the Nabulagala community in January, AGYA has been operating computer literacy classes using the laptop computer of AGYA Co-Founder Divinity Barkley. Unfortunately when Divinity returned to the United States in mid-February to attend the Clinton Global Initiative Conference in Austin Texas, AGYA's computer classes came to an abrupt stop because the organization did not have the funds or the equipment to continue the initiative.
With the help of an AGYA supporter, AGYA has just learned that Nordia Corporation in Ontario, Canada wants to donate 8 desktop computers and various software programs to help AGYA launch our computer lab. In order to get the computers to Uganda, we need your help paying for shipping and wiring the AGYA facility for internet access to the world-wide web.
We need to raise $3,000 U.S. Dollars by May 5, 2009 in order to ship and insure all eight (8) computers via International Postal Mail and secure internet access at the AGYA House. All donations to this fundraising initiative will be tax-deductible through AGYA's partnership with the African Millennium Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.
If we can get 75 people to donate $40.00, we can open up a world of possibilities for a generation of Ugandans who, unlike their parents, will have the unique opportunity to gain a vital skill set and the ability to communicate via the internet.
To make your tax-deductible donation, send your check made payable to "African Millennium Foundation" to:
African Millennium Foundation
c/o Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association (AGYA)
468 North Camden Drive
Beverly Hills, California 90210
Checks should be made payable to "African Millennium Foundation" and have AGYA-Computer Lab written in the memo line of your check. All checks received by April 25, 2009 will receive a free gift designed in Uganda by the AGYA Fashion Design Program.
If you are unable to donate to AGYA at this time, you can help us by providing us with the contact information for alternative shipping options that are timely, relatively inexpensive, and guarantee shipping to Kampala, Uganda, East Africa. AGYA will allocate funds to shipment and the purchase of a generator that will provide reliable electricity even during times of power shortages and outages, which occur frequently in Uganda.
After the computers arrive safely in Uganda, AGYA will install internet access at the AGYA facility, which will cut down on transportation costs to-and-from public internet cafes which typically charge people between 1500-3000 shillings (about $0.80-$1.50) per hour to browse the internet. The average family registered with AGYA report earning about $2.00 a day, and cannot afford to pay such high internet café fees. This is why, in our committed service to the community, AGYA will provide opportunities to our active participants, members, and international volunteers by giving them free access to computers and the internet.
With your help, we can have all eight computers shipped to Uganda, wired, and connected to the world-wide web by the end of May 2009!
If you have specific questions, e-mail us at amagezigemaanyi@gmail.com
Official Blog of AGYA, the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association. Bringing you exclusive news and updates directly from the grassroots!
