Higher Achievement Program
The Challenge
Children in low-income neighborhoods have the opportunity to develop and sharpen their academic and social skills through an innovative award winning after school program called Higher Achievement Program. Targeting kids at a critical juncture, 5th through 8th grade, and working with them in the "gap" hours, 3:30 to 8 during the school year and 8 to 4 in the summer. HAP offers rigorous academic classes and training, and stresses the discipline and dedication children need to succeed. HAP wanted to expand its program in Ward 7 to include a computer lab to enable students to develop computer skills. The DC Public school system contributed a classroom at Tucker Elementary to house the lab and a local business generously donated 26 "gently used" computers. Even with the two biggest challenges met, space and computers, the lab was still not functioning. Missing was a network needed to connect the computers, access to the Internet provided, and appropriate software. HAP had neither the in-house expertise to complete the lab nor the budget to hire outside help.
NPower's Partnerships in the Community Bring a Solution
Given HAP's very limited budget, NPower partnered with AOL Tech Corps, a dedicated group of AOL volunteers who assist nonprofits with various tech related projects across the region. Underwritten by a grant from the AOL Foundation, NPower's tech staff took on the role of project managers, identifying the key tasks, developing a technology work plan, obtaining software through discount channels available to nonprofits, and arranging for internet access with the school including wiring the classroom. Another community partner, Greater DC Cares, recruited and screened employee volunteers from the AOL Tech Corps program.
The Impact
In just one day, a computer lab was created by bringing together a team of tech experts with skilled volunteers thanks to underwriting by AOL and the volunteer effort of AOL staff led by the NPower Tech team. Virus protection, anti-spyware, a variety of educational programs and special software designed for computer labs to minimize maintenance were installed on each of the 26 machines in the lab. With donated space, equipment, and hardware and software purchased at a fraction of the retail price through Tech Soup, the Tucker Elementary School Site in Ward 7 now has a fully functioning computer lab. Because the network is configured for multiple users, ongoing maintenance is minimal, eliminating down time. Best of all, the scholars of the Higher Achievement program now have computers to help them do their homework and improve their skills.
In the words of Maureen Holla, Executive Director of Higher Achievement, "We were so close but so far away from a lab until NPower brought in the resources of the AOL Tech Corps to help us. Together, these folks truly worked a miracle, turning an unused space into a wonderful gift for our scholars. Thank you AOL. Thank you NPower. Thank you Greater DC Cares. We are so glad that you worked together on behalf of HAP and on behalf of the children of Ward 7."
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