NetHope Academy: How You Can Help Haiti Rebuild - Born to Learn - Born To Learn

As regular readers know, last month I travelled to Haiti with members of NetHope, a collaboration of 30 of the world’s leading international humanitarian organizations working together to solve common problems in the developing world.

NetHope has been on the ground in Haiti since shortly after the earthquake, working furiously to rebuild Haiti’s decimated IT infrastructure. That effort has been complicated by the dearth of Haitian IT talent, already in short supply before the earthquake. NetHope member agencies’ IT Pros have been invaluable in the short-term, but in order to sustain and expand the rebuilt infrastructure over time, Haiti needs a permanent, resident IT Pro community.

That’s where you come in.

NetHope is launching the NetHope Academy training initiative--in partnership with Haitian organizations—to provide deserving individuals an opportunity to gain significant IT skills that will increase their economic opportunities and allow them to directly participate in the reconstruction of their communities. NetHope Academy will provide local IT skills training and build in-country technical expertise.

The program will give priority placement and scholarships to women, secondary city natives and severely disadvantaged individuals. NetHope members will provide six-month training internships so that students can gain on-the-job experience. Participating members will co-fund tuition for their respective interns.

How You Can Help:

Microsoft and Cisco are sponsoring this initiative, but you can help, too. Your generous donation will help NetHope bring IT training to Haitians seeking to rebuild their country.

You can give any amount you like through NetHope’s giving site, but here are some suggested donation levels:

For $50, you can help cover out-of-pocket expenses for instructors donating their time in Haiti
For $100, you can help fund computer lab time for 50 students
For $175, you can help fund the stipend for a Haitian IT student’s internship with a NetHope member agency

Your gift may change someone’s life.

Note: If you’re an MCT (or a Cisco trainer) and want to help in-country, stay tuned to Born to Learn to find out about NetHope Academy training opportunities in Haiti.