ICEJ helping to close social gaps through technology
Published on: 23.5.2022By: Laurina Driesse
Everyone should have the chance of learning to use and enjoy the benefit of a computer and access to technology. To advance and find employment today, it is necessary. However, for many Israelis living below the poverty line, the dream of accessing technology, let alone owning their own computer, remains a dream while the desperation to change their circumstances, sadly deepens.
Though Israel is often referred to as a “Start-up” nation with incredible technological advances, there are large sectors of the society who do not have access to technology, with 25% of Israeli society being technologically illiterate due to cultural and financial factors.
According to the Globes financial newspaper in April 2020, 50% of the poorest Jewish families and nearly 60% of all Arab families in Israel did not have computers at home.
So, when our ICEJ Aid team learned of an opportunity to help Israeli youth-at-risk and disabled national servicemen learn computer repair and restore computers for disadvantaged families in the community, we were excited to get on board and help close social gaps through technology!
On a recent sunny afternoon, the Community Center in the heart of Ramot, a neighborhood in Jerusalem, was a hive of activity. The computer repair lab was moved outdoors, and excited youth continued their repair work while families came to collect computers. Tables were set displaying computer hardware and Nicole Yoder, ICEJ Vice President of AID and Aliyah, together with ICEJ staff were standing ready to help pack and distribute newly refurbished computers to those in need.
“Thanks to the generous support of our Christian donors, the ICEJ was able to fund the repair and refurbishment of one hundred recycled computers as well as the necessary accessories enabling the smooth running of the computers. Each computer is also loaded with Windows 10 and Microsoft software” remarked Nicole.
The computer repair lab is run by trained community volunteers. These are disabled national service volunteers, those receiving a scholarship to study and youth-at-risk. They attend community empowerment classes and learn to master computer repairs. Classes run two evenings per week and participants obtain a Cisco certification in PC repair upon completion of the course.
The goal is to offer computer and technology training and activities to children and youth-at-risk, job seekers, people with disabilities and the elderly. The hope is to educate participants to use technology as a tool for social mobility in a warm and supportive environment, by offering basic computer literacy.
Social workers refer computer recipients who span all age groups and come from various cultural backgrounds. As they come to collect their computers, the repair lab volunteers happily explain how the computer works and answer any questions.
“During the corona crisis, the need for computers skyrocketed and the lack of computers and infrastructure among Israeli societies lowest strata were painfully clear. This resulted in learning gaps and additional marginalizing of children unable to attend school properly during the crisis. Waiting lists for computers grew longer. Since March 2020, the lab refurbished 1250 computers and screen sets donated by offices, high tech companies, and the private sector” explained Nicole.
In a letter of thanks, one family expressed their gratitude: “… I want to thank everyone who so generously donated to us. It was a tremendous assistance to use. We are a family of seven – both of us were unemployed because of the corona crisis, and at one point we had five children at home who needed to study online. We ran into trouble because we did not have a computer at home and in this situation, we desperately needed at least one. You came to our aid and really saved us. We are certain that there are many more families in our situation, and they are also deeply grateful for this help. So, with deep appreciation, we send warm wishes for good health and our thanks to everyone who made this donation possible.”
Through your generous giving, the ICEJ can impact many more Israeli lives, giving hope to their future and help in building bridges to close societal gaps.