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 Working youth in this densely-populated city have an opportunity to learn through technology in a safe space, 24 hours a day.
In Harlem, New York, a technology center in the heart of a community undergoing a renaissance contributes to the sense of moving forward.
In Half Moon Bay, California, children of Mexican-American farm workers come to record songs or make computer animations and, in the process, learn technical skills that will open their eyes to a world of opportunities.
 On opposite sides of the United States, and on the other side of the globe, these communities are among the more than 40 now being served by an Intel Computer Clubhouse. Although each clubhouse is unique, all serve youth most at risk of being left out of the digital age because of poverty. In these community-based centers, technology makes dreams possible.
In New Delhi, for instance, Intel has teamed with a community-based organization called Katha to provide a clubhouse for children who must work to support their impoverished families. "Imagine trying to convince the parents of a child who is sent to work to help support the family that education is critical to that child's well-being," says Roma Arellano, manager of Worldwide Community Education for Intel. "Katha has been able to make that case. This clubhouse," Arellano says, "is among the most special in our network."
The clubhouse in Half Moon Bay, a coastal community in Northern California, has been developed as a partnership involving Intel, Peninsula Family YMCA, and Moonridge Housing Community. Moonridge Clubhouse Coordinator Mandy Clothier, a former teacher with a master's degree in educational technology, sees great benefits coming from the informal opportunities for learning that the clubhouses provide.
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elderly gentleman
from Harlem, New York
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"The teacher is not standing in front of the class, leading a lesson," Clothier says. "Instead, you start with children who want to make something, and they will learn how to use these tools to get it done." The clubhouses come equipped with cutting-edge software and multimedia applications, giving children access to powerful tools. Frequent visitors who work in the high-tech field not only demonstrate how to use the equipment, but also provide important role models. "These mentors are wonderful; the kids gravitate to them," Clothier says. "The human component is so important."
As they learn to use digital cameras and multimedia recording equipment in this friendly environment, children often become eager to mentor their own peers in the use of technology. That desire snowballs into leadership opportunities, giving children and teens even more confidence to pursue their dreams. The youth who become familiar faces at the clubhouse, says Clothier, "are starting to see this place as their way out, their way to advance in life."
Related Links
Intel Computer Clubhouse Network
Tour of Intel in education activities in India
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