Even if they carry an American brand name like Dell or HP, most of the personal computers in this country are made elsewhere, but a Charlottesville computer consultant thinks American kids should know how to build a PC, and he’s offered a summer program where campers do just that.
The laboratory run by a not-for-profit called Computers4kidsis a hive of activity after school when children and teens from low-income families arrive to work one-on-one with mentors. Program Director Kala Somerville says volunteers offer at least one hour a week to work with students, and they need not be computer experts.
“We really pride ourselves in trying to provide the support that’s needed for volunteers who will offer free training with a paid staff person. If you hit a wall, there’s always someone to help out.”
Students who show up on time, on a regular basis, are rewarded with a free computer. For Niedia Washington’s family, this was the first PC, making her a household hero.
“I’m like the tech person at my house, because every time like our computer goes down, I have to restart it.”
And now, she’s learning how to code software.
Kimani Taliaferro will enroll at Radford University this fall after spending six years at the Computers4Kids(C4K) lab. At times, he admits it’s frustrating.
“Because sometimes the computer doesn’t want to follow what you tell it. It might crash. You finally get it done, but then something happens and it didn’t save, so you do it all over again.”
But mostly, he enjoys mastering the personal computer - getting it to do as he says.
Now understanding computer software is only one aspect of tech support. The best people also know the hardware. Jason Daniel is president of Tech Dynamism, a software consulting company.
“Right now in Charlottesville, there’s no course, no training academy or anything that does this. Every business I know of, every person I know of is looking for someone to do tech support.”
So he’s spent two weeks volunteering to run the Build a PC Summer Camp.