TechSoup Part 3

Even though I had my final interview last Friday, homework prevented me from posting something about this earlier. Literature for Life is an amazing organization which offers teen moms a safe environment to explore and learn to use language to her advantage and to benefit her children. They help at-risk families build a culture of literacy.

So Jay (my partner), Donnie(the Marketing manager), and I interviewed Literature for Life on Friday. Compared to the OCASI interview, I could better clearly see the impact TechSoup had on this company. This was because they had physical evidence of their creations to display to us in the form of their magazines (which reach out to single mothers).

After this interview, my understanding of the digital divide has changed. TechSoup's sole mission is to essentially bridge the digital divide by supplying technology to non-profit organizaions that cannot afford it. However, after these interviews, it seems that TechSoup has done more than simply provide technology to those that need it. These organizations are learning how to use software primarily on their own, with assistance from TechSoup. TechSoup has supplied the employees of these organizations with new technological skills that they can use outside the workplace.

I have heard the term 'digital divide' used repeatedly, but I have never known anyone (or any organization) that did not have limited access to technology. After these interviews I realize that the gap is there, and organizations like TechSoup Canada are committed to bridging the divide.

More information on Literature for Life can be found here.