But even with the price of computers dropping, they are common only in schools serving higher-income areas. Too often, inner-city schools can't even afford books and school supplies, let alone computers, and their students fall farther and father behind in the race to build skills and experience in the wired world. Founded in 1997, Computers for Youth is taking action to help disadvantaged schools and students gain the invaluable computer skills they will need. Project Patchwork focuses on putting computers into homes of needy students and getting both parents and kids accustomed to their use. Each home receives a personal computer, software, email accounts for family members, and Internet service for a trial period.
Technical support is provided via telephone or email.
Project Patchwork also provides a virtual community where the students can teach parents skills, help build a family budget, write a r sum , or build a home page. Community members can chat with others online. Project Enhance places computers into New York City public schools for educational use in the classroom. The computers are inspected to ensure that they are in good working order, and any software or existing files are removed to comply with licensing agreements and to protect younger students from offensive material. The repairs and inspections are performed by co-op students at the School for Cooperative Technical Education, a vocational school near East Harlem.