Successes:  

Two girls ages  4 & 5 with developmental disabilities were able to keep going with their school activities during the summer.

Others in Amistad Elementary are being monitored to see effectiveness of computers for the summer. As soon as results are available they will be posted on this site.

One high school youth can use his voice system to type three times as fast.

One 14 year old developmentally disabled youth not only received a computer, practiced at home, but came into the Learning Center for 6 hours a week. He was able to learn to type and with errors tested out at 83 words per minute. 

We trained two High School girls on getting information regarding scholarships and information off of the web.

Problems:  Our biggest problem was getting the families to respond to getting a computer in their home. The school is unable to give us the phone numbers to contact.  Therefore over 50% of the families didn't respond. The other problem was following up with those that only spoke Spanish. Many of these families don't understand the importance of computers for girls or for kids.

NICKOLE EVANS GRANT PROPOSAL

Summary of Project:

Project Concept/Description: Arborwood Apartments is located in the dences populated, lowest income, and most ethnically diverse area in Kennewick. The local school has 75%+ children on free and reduced lunches, 60% have English as a Second Language, and 40% turnover due to many being from Migrant Worker Families.  I have worked the last two years as a homework helper for the elementary schools that the kids go to from the Arborwood complex. One of the biggest problems is the availability of summer educational activities to keep the kids at their grade level and/or activities that keep the kids out of trouble while the parents are working. The RECA Foundation through their computer on loan program shows that when kids get access to computers, they stay out of trouble, and the destructive behavior in a low-income community decreases. Part of the contract with the children is if you get an on-loan computer, you stay out of trouble, or the RECA Foundation will take it back.

Project Structure: The RECA Foundation, since 1992, has provided over 4000 free e-mail accounts, set up 12 Community Technology Centers, and recycled over 300 computers to low income families in the greater Tri-City area. All of this with donated equipment and little funding. Arborwood Learning Center a Community Technology Center and project of the RECA Foundation is run by my parents, the co-founders of the RECA Foundation see www.tcfn.org. The Arborwood Learning Center is an apartment right behind our rented apartment donated by the apartment owners. My brother and I both help in the Learning Center, I as a homework helper. My brother age 11 provides computer training to children, many with developmental disabilities. It is important to say here that on the on-loan 486 computers is a suite of software including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, educational software for math, reading, and spelling, Oregon Trail and a typing tutor. Also included on these computers is a security system that doesn't allow users to add or delete programs, thereby encouraging even the youngest to use the computer, and reduces the fear of older members of the household of damaging the computer. This system reduces the one-to-one time needed to teach a person, encouraging self-learning. The RECA Foundation has been monitoring the results of placing these computers in families with children below grade level; they have found that the children improve dramatically. During the summer the RECA Foundation employees 2 or 3 at risk youth to help out in the Learning Center, obtain computer training, and learn how to develop web pages for local non-profits. It is proposed that these older youth will help with the summer youth program.

Expectations:  We would expect to recycle 30 486's to families in the area. An average of 4 children in each family using the computer means serving 120 children. Thirty children and their siblings will be monitored during the summer on progress on educational programs. It is also expected that 5 teenagers will be trained on Pentiums with Internet access. Should they complete their orientation program, computers will be sent home for the academic year.  We will be reporting this program to the press and celebrating the educational success of these children prior to school starting.  Nickole and Evan Evans will help train and monitor progress of these children and report findings to the Elie Wiesel Foundation.                              .

TO: Nickole Evans

FROM: David L. Phillips

RE: Grant Proposal

DATE: 8 March 2001

Congratulations. I am writing to inform you that your grant request of up to $500 has been approved. Please provide a detailed budget as soon as possible.

Nickole, your project demonstrates an important use of computer and communications technology to promote student learning and positive youth development. It is innovative and worthy of support.

I appreciate your effort to build on the track record of the RECA Foundation. Your activities will indeed be enhanced by working with project partners, such as the Arborwood Learning Center and the Arborwood management.

In addition, your proposal has carefully considered implementation and your target group. The project is also appealing because it emphasizes mentoring and considers developing skill sets, which can be useful professional skills in the future.

We look forward to staying informed of your good work.

Thank you.

Finances: