CDI – Center for Digital Inclusion

DELL LAUNCHES EDUCATION PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTER FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION

• Dell YouthConnect is part of the Global Giving philanthropy program that focuses on providing access to technology and education for young people around the world
• In Brazil, the Center for Digital Inclusion (CDI) deploys and manages nine education and service community centers

Eldorado do Sul, RS, November 05, 2009 – In the month that Dell celebrates its tenth anniversary in Brazil, the company launched the Dell YouthConnect program together with CDI, global NGO and digital inclusion pioneer that will benefit thousands of young people by providing access to technology and education.  It represents an advance in the digital inclusion initiatives that the company has led in Brazil in low-income communities. The program will support young people (until 17 years old ) by providing information technology, citizenship and cultural development courses, and aims to benefit 1,100 plus young people in Brazil.

Thanks to the partnership between CDI and grants from Dell Global Giving, the program sponsors nine CDI Community Centers in Brazil (three in Campinas (SP), three in São Paulo (SP) and three in Porto Alegre (RS). Dell has donated approximately 500 computers, as well as the technical upgrade of the existing computer equipment within the centers. Dell is also donating 55 computers, to the first Mega CDI Community Center in Rio de Janeiro, scheduled to inaugurate this month.

The Dell YouthConnect program was launched globally in Mexico and India early this year, receiving almost US$2.7 million from Dell Global Giving to deploy and maintain all the CDI Community Centers that offer literacy, mathematics, science and technology courses to develop skills in emerging countries.  The program will be launched in five other countries by early 2010.

“It is fundamental that we reach out to young people by developing their skills and integrating them into the Digital Age.  Besides supporting access to technology resources, we are also helping young Brazilians to learn, and unleashing the unique potential that each child has by using technology”, said Raymundo Peixoto, General Manager for Dell Brazil.

“With the support of visionary and socially responsible companies like Dell, CDI is able to further its mission to transform lives and strengthen low-income communities by empowering people with information and communication technology,” said Rodrigo Baggio, founder and executive director, CDI.  “Together with Dell we are using technology as a medium to fight poverty, stimulate entrepreneurship and create a new generation of changemakers.”

Context:

• Every day almost 500 thousand people get online for the first time in their lives.  Most of these people live in emerging countries that will account for about 59% of the global volume of PCs in 2012, according to IDC.
• Dell YouthConnect was designed to help young people around the world to get education and universal access to information.
• Dell has announced its global plans to increase its charitable contributions to one percent of the company’s earnings before tax by 2011.

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About CDI

Founded in 1995, pioneer of the digital inclusion movement in Latin America, CDI (Center for Digital Inclusion) – www.cdi.org.br – is one of the leading social enterprises in the world with a unique socio-educational approach – activating digital literacy, citizenship and entrepreneurship for the base of the pyramid. Now present in 12 countries with a network of 753 self-managed and self-sustaining CDI Community Centers throughout Latin America – to date more than 1.25 million people have been benefited.  In addition to low-income communities, CDI centers are also present in prisons, indigenous communities, psychiatric clinics, and hospitals for the mentally and physically disabled. Recognized with more than 60 international awards, CDI is an international NGO with US 501c3 status, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro with operations in New York, London, across 10 countries in Latin America and soon in the Arabic region.

About Dell Brazil

First facility in Latin America of the world leader in computer systems direct selling, Dell Brazil was opened in November 1999, in Eldorado do Sul, near from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. In 2007 the company expanded its operations in the country with a plant in the city of Hortolândia, state of Sao Paulo. Dell Brazil produces, sells and services a wide range of products, from laptops and desktops to servers, storage and switches. According to IDC, Dell Brazil is leader in SMB marketing in Q1. More information on Dell can be found on its website www.dell.com.br or by phone 0800-70 14 185.

Dell Media Contact
Contatos Mídia:
Luciana Montanhana	G&A	(11) 3037-3231	dell@gaspar.com.br

CDI Media Contact:

CDI Global, Elis Monteiro, elis.monteiro@cdi.org.br

Tel: +55 21 3235-9463

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 9:55 pm and is filed under Press.