Other computers will find a home in summer camps. Other camps will benefit from the technology as well. Many of the donated computers are earmarked for CYM use in Ukraine. Working closely with Ukraine's National Executive, CYMnet plans to deliver a number of machines to Ukraine for use by regional branches and the National Executive. CYM members abroad have expressed particular interest in this facet of the program, since it will open possibilities for broader communication between CYM in Ukraine and branches in other countries.
Current plans call for machines destined for Ukraine to ship overseas in late spring.
The CYMnet movement first attracted broad interest among CYM membership with the establishment of an international Computers and Internet conference in Ellenville, N.Y. in April, 2000. There, sumivtsi had the opportunity to learn computer basics, create web sites and manipulate computer graphics, and received instruction on issues like communicating and sending email in Ukrainian over the Internet. The international conference was followed by popular national conferences in Ukraine and Australia earlier this year. Through the Computers for Youth project, CYMnet now plans to assist local CYM branches in obtaining the technology needed to allow sumivtsi to make use of the skills they've learned, to enrich youth programs through the use of computers technology. Donations of computers, software, components and accessories are actively being sought.