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Invest your time ~ change your life

eCorps is the part of World Computer Exchange where volunteers go to work to help our Partners in developing countries that have previously received computers from us. We develop project plans with our Partners, recruit volunteers, orient them, plan the trip and then evaluate the project. Expenses related to eCorps trips are tax-deductable as allowed by the government of the home country of participating volunteers. More information is in the box on the left.  We provide letters for our vlunteers to use in raising their needed funds. Our eCorps has the following three programs:

  • Tech Teams:  Several times a year, WCE sends volunteer teams of tech professionals for two weeks. Some of the members are techies and others are skilled in the educational use of the Internet and others help with the appropirate disposal of electronic waste.  The trips are scheduled a few weeks after the arrival of computers from WCE. Our tech teams work with local tech teams who will be responsible for the computers over the long term. Together the teams work on network configuration and community orientation about technology and Internet issues. See the story about our team now in Nigeria in August 2008 at the link in the box on the left. There is also information there about our trips to Kenya and Tanzania in July 2009. WCE is currently exploring interest in trips to Mexico and Nepal before additonal trips to Kenya and Tanzania.  (Except with specific agreement of our Partner, volunteers must be 21 years of age.) 
  • Youth Internet Camps:  University students participate in a three-week service-learning study abroad programs each year in January or July.  The students act as staff in one of our Internet camps for youth in a developing country.   eCorps university student volunteers contribute their valuable assistance while becoming aware of the inequality of resources, the challenge of sustainability, and what life is like in a developing country.  We are currently planning a camp in Mexico for Spanish-speaking student volunteers.
  • "Travelers":  WCE regularly needs Programme Officers and other individual volunteers to visit a developing country to help meet with groups that are interested in WCE. They meet with WCE's Partners and potential Partners to plan our next shipment of computers and to evaluate and write stories about the status, use, and impact of our prior shipments to the country. We also ask eCorps Travelers to take digital pictures for our website.  A sample report from one of our "Travelers" is posted here. A sample story of the work of a "Traveler" is posted here. E-mail Timothy Anderson if you are planning a trip to a developing country. Here are some of the countries recently visited by WCE volunteers:  
    • Armenia (July 2008) Steve Sena 
    • Bolivia (September 2009) Regina Ryan
    • Bulgaria (November 2008) Mariya Petkova
    • Cambodia (? 2010) Janet Auman
    • Cameroon (November 2009) Yumi Masuoka 
    • Ecuador (2008) Curtis Griesel
    • Egypt (? 2010) Mariya Petkovia
    • Ethiopia Samson Teffera (August 2008) and Abiyu Berlie (October 2008 and July 2009)
    • Ghana (June 2008 and June 2009) Mike and Marla Delrosa
    • India [Bangalore] (September 2008) Sumona Dey
    • India [Mumbai] (August 2008) HItten Zaveri
    • India [Goa, Pune & Mumbai (November 2008) Meghan Trossen
    • Indonesia (September 2010) Chad Wolfe
    • Jordan (September 2010) Stephen Sena
    • Kenya (August 2008) Henry S. Thairu, Wambui Kinya
    • Liberia (April 2010) Mike Cambra
    • Malawi (June 2010) Sarah Pouezevara
    • Nepal (September 2008) Bill Leroy. (May 2009) Anumeha Narain. 
    • Nigeria (May 2009) Uchenna Ndulue.  (? 2010 Philip Nwachukwu.
    • Pakistan (December 2008) Karim Jamal (November 2009) Anonymous
    • Palestine (January 2010) Janet Auman
    • Peru (February 2010) Rick Doane
    • Senegal (July 2008 & June 2009 & February 2010) Lettie Heer
    • Sierra Leone (June 2008) Lucas Aalmans
    • Swaziland (May 2010) Dimitry Cherney
    • Tanzania (July 2007 & October 2008) Emma Shercliff

WCE eCorps Consortium: WCE is recruiting a group of 12 experts in this field to help guide this work.

WCE eCorps Manager:  WCE welcomes volunteer Mariya Petkova. Mariya is from Bulgaria and is an international student at Brown University. Click here to see her RESUME.  You can contact her at: eCorps@WorldComputerExchange.org