There is a wide concern in the United States about assuring that there will be broad community access for information technology and that no group would be excluded. This particularly affects lower economic groups, minority groups and youth from disadvantaged circumstances (particularly female youth). For a large segment of this group, technology that is available through public sources is not reaching them and is often viewed by the provider as a privilege rather than a right. Those young people who have an interest and who are well behaved, generally have access to computers in the public schools. Those who do not, have limited access.

The Boys & Girls Club serves 15,000 youth members at 13 club sites throughout the State of Delaware. Over 60% come from families with total incomes under $15,000. 51% of this number are minorities, 42% are girls. Many of these children are having difficulty in school and lack the support system in their homes that foster technological education. Families are struggling to make ends meet and do not have the "extra" dollars to purchase computers or the "extra time" to learn how to use them.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware has developed a Strategic Plan for the next four years. It has identified a need to provide access and training in preparing young people for the technological future. This preparation will be not only in the areas of vocational pursuits but also addressing day to day living needs.

As a result, the organization has identified the need to develop a major technological initiative to benefit the children and families it serves. This initiative will primarily be focused in two major areas. The first area is enhancing each of our clubs learning centers to provide access for young people and their families to computers and provide computer training. The second area is to develop a technological center which would prepare and train young people in the area of hardware and software development. The concept calls for formulation of alliances with the public and private sectors who can assist in providing guidance, training, equipment and support in the development and operation of these centers. The organization currently has a site identified for the technology center and has secured the property. The content and structure of the training, education and operations has yet to be developed

The Boys & Girls Clubs request the support of the Delaware Community Foundation to launch a year long initiative in developing a leadership group to study, identify, plan for the development of the technology center and the expansion of technology in the various learning centers. This group would consist of corporate leaders from several Delaware major businesses, educational institutions, school representatives and governmental agencies whose tasks would be to identify existing resources and formulate the structure and operation identified above.

The technology center would become an educational resource center for young people across the state. Preference would be given to those young people who are economically disadvantaged and that generally do not have access to computers for communication information and services. Young people would be trained in hardware repair, upgrade, software development, and software utilization, graphic design, web development, etc.

The Boys & Girls Club recognizes that the individuals most affected by the digital divide are the young people they serve. The strategic plan establishing the technology center is still in the very early stages. We are struggling to determine the specific services, training and educational preparation that we should initially address.

The second part of the concept addresses the development of the present learning centers. The development of the learning centers at each of the club sites would provide access and instruction for young people at 13 locations across the state in all three counties. Several of these sites have updated computer equipment. Some club sites have antiquated computer systems in their learning center. None have internet accessibility at this time.


As a result of this study a plan that assesses what is currently being offered, what gaps exist and specific plans for program service delivery would be the end result. It would also work to bring present learning centers to the capability of having internet access and software instruction for its youth.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware welcomes advice and counsel any interested party on this effort.



For further information contact:
George Krupanski at gkrupanski@bgclubs.org.