Growing with Technology Awards

Opportunity Access, Inc

Non-Profit
First Runner-Up

URL: www.oaccess.org
Location: Stroudsburg, PA
Employees: 3 full-time employees
Executive Sponsor: Charles Moore, Director
Cisco Products: (NEED)

Creating a Virtual Path to Economic and Social Empowerment

Opportunity Access, Inc. (OA) is a U.S. based nonprofit organization that establishes public computer centers in economically-disadvantaged communities. Much of OA's work has been in the Limon Province of Costa Rica, where the organization provides computer and technology training to students of all ages. It also empowers teenagers to complete their high school education, then receive technology training to take advantage of economic opportunities in the workforce. OA's Cahuita Computer Center, the only public computer center in the area, has graduated over 1,750 adult students from computer applications and computer repair courses over the past 6 years.

A Positive Impact in the Greater Community

Since many of OA's adult students are social workers in various community organizations, they have been better able to improve the quality of life for the 30,000 families in Limon Province. The Cahuita Computer Center also installs, repairs, and maintains computer systems for schools and service organizations, helps these groups use computers, and offers them technology consultation services. OA is also establishing the country's first Cisco Networking Academy. At present, OA programs are under consideration for deployment throughout Costa Rica, and have generated interest from other Third World countries. Opportunity Access is proof positive that technology can benefits both public education and the community at large.