A $456,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is helping Washington State University's Center to Bridge the Digital Divide support a 4-H computer technology initiative and underwriting work of the new center.
"The grant gives the center an opportunity to partner with one of the world's leading philanthropic foundations to extend the benefits of modern digital technologies to youth in rural communities and underserved urban neighborhoods," said Bill Gillis, center director.
The grant is supporting a Cooperative Extension 4-H program aimed at increasing the computer literacy skills of Washington 4-H youth by training them in a nationally juried 4-H curriculum.
"The Gates Foundation gift is especially timely as our nationwide 4-H system celebrates its centennial year in 2002," said Pat BoyEs, director of WSU Cooperative Extension's 4-H Youth Development program.
The training is taking place at six new 4-H computing laboratories being established by the grant as well as via a mobile 4-H computer training van, which will employ satellite technology for wireless high speed Internet connectivity from anywhere in the state. The labs are in Georgeville, Davenport, Clarkston, Lacey, Tacoma and just outside Everson.