ROUND ROCK, TEXAS: As a part of ongoing efforts to invest in a more diverse technology workforce, Dell Inc. expects to contribute $14 million in grants and technology donations to support future generations of STEM workers, in current fiscal year which ends Feb 3, 2018.
Current donations made across Dell’s 71 youth learning partners globally are expected to bring technology education to more than 1.5 million underserved youth.
With the expected contributions, a total of 4 million children will be impacted through Dell’s strategic giving programs, since 2014.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects total number of jobs in STEM fields to grow 12.5% by 2022, in the U.S. alone.
As the technology industry looks for new ways to diversify its workforce, there’s an opportunity to expand STEM initiatives to those who may be underserved in this area currently.
Specifically, there is room for the public and private sectors to commit more to STEM education and mentorship to underserved youth. By encouraging all youth regardless of gender or ethnicity or social class to study STEM, there’s an opportunity to bring different perspectives to STEM-related industries as well as fulfill jobs in the future.
“We believe that the future belongs to those who can build digital technologies and those who can use technology to solve the world’s biggest challenges,” said Karen Quintos, chief customer officer, Dell.
“The technology industry is creating the jobs of the future, as technology is the critical enabler for business, no matter the sector. It is our responsibility to prepare the next generation, particularly underserved populations, with technology access as well as the core skills and confidence to thrive in a digital world.”
Dell’s partnerships
Dell has dedicated funds, technology and expertise globally to further empower and enable interested youth from around the world to explore STEM fields. Some of Dell’s commitments this fiscal year include:
- Girls Who Code: The U.S. nonprofit is dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology by teaching computer skills and coding to more than 40,000 girls across America. Dell has donated $300,000 this year, including donations of Alienware laptops for several of the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Programs and their after-school Clubs programs.
- Citizens School: Approximately 1,800 students in Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and California can access STEM-based apprenticeship programs through Citizen Schools. Dell has donated more than $500,000 in grants this year.
- REAP: Stanford University’s Rural Education Action Program (REAP) program benefits tens of thousands of rural and migrant students in China through a computer-aided learning program. Dell has donated more than $500,000 this year.
- Camara Education: This Ireland-based charity provides educational institutions with technology, educator and support to help them improve educational outcomes. Camara Education’s services are delivered through a network of local hubs in Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Tanzania, Zambia, United Kingdom and Ireland. This year, Dell donated a grant of $650,000, benefiting more than 250,000 youth and 2,000 educators in 240 locations.
- Dell will open two new Solar Powered Learning Labs in South Africa this month, with more planned. These innovative programs bring technology and connectivity to students, teachers and communities through solar power and Wyse thin client workstations.
- American India Foundation: Nearly $600,000 was donated this year to the foundation, which enables technology-based classroom teaching methods across six states in India. The in-person programs benefit more than 90,000 youth, and satellite programs benefit nearly 190,000. Part of this donation included product donations of Dell’s Latitude laptops as well as Precision tower desktops.
Power of One
In addition to donations, Dell is launching the Power of One mentor program. The program challenges Dell team members and others in the technology industry to dedicate time to volunteer or mentor one child about their job, why they love it, and how it makes a difference. Dell believes that just one conversation can have a lasting impact and set a child on the course to change the world.
“The power of mentorship is immeasurable,” Trisa Thompson, senior vice president and chief responsibility officer of Dell. “Children especially need strong role models. We are excited to encourage the tech industry as a whole to embrace a culture of mentorship and to encourage a more diverse, and in turn successful, STEM workforce for tomorrow.”
Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code says, “Technology is the single-most powerful industry in its potential to rapidly reinvent society as we know it. We cannot limit a girl’s ability to shape this future simply because she lacks access to the necessary technology and resources to gain a computer science education.”
Sajit Menon, Head of Programs, American Indian Foundation says, “Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. Wee aim at providing underserved children access to technology integrated education with a special focus on science. We empower the teachers by providing them digitized content for science and by creating an enabling environment for students to learn and grow.”
John Fitzsimons, CEO, Camara Education says, “Camara Education has been working with Dell for many years. Our success together is built on our shared vision; to leverage the potential of technology to enhance education. Previous successful projects together include the startup of our Tanzanian hub, which is now a full-fledged social enterprise impacting thousands of students per year. This is also at the core of our partnership; empowering a young generation to improve their own life opportunities. We are very excited to have Dell on board for our groundbreaking project in Ethiopia.”
