WCE volunteer Dimitry Cherney traveled to Swaziland in June to speak with educators and organizations interested in becoming World Computer Exchange partners. "I got to meet with a lot of people," said Cherney. Among them were Peace Corps volunteers, Rotary Club members, representatives from the country's ministries of education and commerce and an organization that assists young people orphaned as a result of the AIDS epidemic.

"During my Bar Mitzvah year I volunteered at World Computer Exchange, as one of the 13 mitzvoth or deeds that I performed throughout the year. Volunteering during my Bar Mitzvah year was important to me because becoming a Bar Mitzvah meant doing things for others, and not just celebrating on my Bar Mitzvah day.  

World Computer Exchange has partnered with University of the People (UoPeople), the world's first tuition-free online university, to expand UoPeople's reach in developing nations and strengthening their shared missions of democratized access to education. WCE is now beginning outreach to our Partners and contacts in the following six countries: Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Liberia, Palestine and Zimbabwe.

Volunteers from the Baltimore/Washington Chapter of World Computer Exchange packed 240 computers into a shipping container on April 10 and sent them off to 3 schools, 3 orphanages and a university library in Tanzania to connect 2,000 youth. The equipment arrived in Dar es Salaam at the end of May adn has been distributed.

“We’ve been supporters of WCE over the years”, said Disque Deane. “When Carol and I first learned about the Computers for Girls Initiative we wanted to help. Zimbabwe caught our attention because it’s a country that can have a great future." 

 "Because making it possible for girls to get a good, equal and modern education helps make a country great."

The first phase of shipping 211 computers and other electronic equipment to the Victoria Institute of Science and Technology (VIST) has been completed. Initial steps have been taken to set up a multimedia research and training center in western Kenya in cooperation with the KCA University. A team of eCorps volunteers helped train faculty there on audio and visual film making technologies.  VIST would like to thank all those who have contributed to this initial phase and additional information on next steps can be obtained from Calestous Juma cjuma30@gmail.com

The Consumer Electronic Association recognized World Computer Exchange at its annual technology show in Las Vegas in January citing WCE's work in 67 developing countries helping to bridge the digital divide and working to reduce electronic waste.  In recognition of our work, the association's president, Gary Shapiro presented WCE president Timothy Anderson with a $2,000 contribution at a dinner with the consumer group's international partners.  Shapiro and Anderson also participated in a planning session for a United Nations effort to bring tens of thousands of donated used computers to developing countries.