IBM partners with United Way to donate computers to early learning centers with high Hispanic population

 

As part of a nationwide initiative to support early childhood education within the Hispanic community, IBM donated a number of Young Explorer™ computer centers to Miami-Dade organizations supporting educational programs. The recipients, including United Way, then distributed the computers among early learning centers throughout the county with a Hispanic student population of more than 40 percent.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanic children are more likely to drop out of high school than any other ethnic group in the U.S.  Hispanics are also significantly underrepresented in technical and engineering professions according to the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering.

The United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education has been using the Young Explorer™ computer centers for more than two years in all of its pre-kindergarten classes and has found that each computer system encourages children to explore new technology, helps them to stay on task, challenges them to find the right answers and teaches them to share.

“We are delighted that IBM has given us the opportunity to share a dozen new systems with four of our partner early learning centers” Harve A. Mogul, United Way president and CEO, said.

With help from Center staff, United Way selected sites that not only have a high percentage of Hispanic children in attendance, but whose teachers and/or directors have completed Center training on technological applications for classroom use.