A Socialbox.biz blog post update by Jenni (April 2018)
As you may know, SocialBox.biz recently launched the Laptops for Homeless initiative with the goal of collecting and re-distributing 1,000 reused working laptops as a stepping stone into employment and social integration. This initiative provides qualifying homeless and other disadvantaged individuals such as those at risk of homelessness with reused working laptop computers, open source software, and training to use the technology.
These laptops help increase digital inclusion of the UK’s homeless populations, allowing them to keep in touch with friends and family, research new interests, learn computer skills for their jobs, and find employment opportunities.
These additional partnerships will help expand our reach across more UK territories, including Scotland. Previously, we were only able to reach homeless laptop recipients in London.
We also have other changes coming in the near future! Currently, we offer in-person pop up computer training classes to laptop recipients at our partner charity locations, where we train the new computer owners on basic computer skills and how to use open source software. Open source programs are free, and allow them to use email, word processing documents, and other useful applications.
While we work to develop our computer skills classroom facility, we encourage our charity partners to also use the training platform edX, which was developed by leaders at Harvard University and MIT.
https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-linux-linuxfoundationx-lfs101x-1
Many free resources to learn about Linux and open source software provided by The Linux Foundation are also available via the Edx platform.
The Linux Foundation sponsors the work of Linux creator Linus Torvalds and lead maintainer Greg Kroah-Hartman and is supported by members such as Cisco, Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, NEC, Oracle and many others.
“Laptops for Homeless is a wonderful initiative, providing not just a hand out, but a hand up, to enable individuals to support themselves by conducting valuable, in demand work in the technology field,” said Linux Foundation General Manager, Training & Certification, Clyde Seepersad. “The Linux Foundation is proud to offer a range of free training courses to help individuals all over the world gain highly useful, marketable skills they can use to build and improve their livelihoods.”
Anyone can take these technology classes for free to learn skills for technology careers.
Is your business looking for a way to get get involved in Laptops for Homeless, or another corporate governance strategy?
Contact us for information about our social impact and technology consulting services!
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