A Green Country man is working to educate children is some of the poorest parts of the world. He said his original idea to do Something Good has now expanded to 21 countries.
Mark Haney used his background in technology to help program tablets for a nonprofit he helped create called CTRL ALT DEL Poverty.
“The idea behind it is to give control to kids who don’t have that, to alter the situation they’re in, and to help them delete that cycle of poverty that they’ve grown up in and their parents probably grew up in,” said Haney.
The organization partners with other nonprofits already working with kids in need. They wanted to create a sustainable way to help kids get their hands on tools that can further their educations. They wanted the tools to be easy to use in places without reliable power or cell service.
“It runs off its own battery,” said Haney, “Inside of here is a very small computer called a raspberry pi computer. There is software that has been written so it is broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal.”
Students can only access safe and educational files Mark has programed into the technology. Not to mention videos on drawing, math and more – are all in the language of the child using the device. The technology is called METL kits–Mobile Educational Technology Labs.
“These weighs 17 pounds and it is the size of a briefcase – it goes home with the teacher at night,” said Haney.
CTRL ALT DEL Poverty has technology in 21 countries. The project has grown over the years.
METAL has been installed in juvenile detention centers; it has even helped parents who are homeschooling their kids.
These are tools Mark and his team believe help educate a child, inspire a young mind and hopefully—break generational patterns of poverty.
TO LEARN MORE OR DONATE: https://ctrlaltdelpoverty.org/
