Our Approach

By expanding access to computers, technologies and the Internet, WCE aspires to enhance the quality of education in the developing world and help increase the chances for youth, their families and community to overcome poverty, lead productive lives and contribute to the growth of their economies. Our holistic approach involves:

Local Partners
Community Investment
Capacity Building
Technology + Education
Responsible Recycling

Local Partners

WCE believes that local organizations in developing countries understand what it takes to bridge the digital divide in their communities. That is why WCE looks to partner with organizations that show a true commitment to the project. In order to become a Partner, organizations complete our implementation questionnaire that serves as the basis of their project plan. Questions address everything from building local partnerships, to raising funds, as well as managing and maintaining the computers, Internet access, security and other ongoing issues. Partner applications are evaluated and then approved based on their feasibility and sustainability. To help ensure our partners' success, benefiting organizations must be involved in the planning process and invested as stakeholders.

The result is that our Partners report that over 1 million youth are connected annually and over half of our current business is repeat business.

Community Investment

Community commitment is fundamental to WCE’s philosophy. For projects to be successful, communities must have a sense of ownership of the project. That is why partner organizations are required to raise a portion of the cost in matching funds becoming co-investors. In addition, our unique model of grassroots capacity-building combines trust, due diligence, cooperation and co-investment to ensure long-term sustainability.

Capacity Building

Empowering our Partners to create and successfully implement strategies best suited to their communities is central to our approach. Our network of 25 global Strategic Allies and 800 volunteers work to build the leadership and organizational capacity of our partner organizations in the areas of planning, fund raising, content development & partnership development. Fostering the talents, skills and abilities of our Partners helps to ensure long-term sustainability.

Technology + Education

The potential of giving access to computers and Internet technologies to engage and motivate – especially when tied to education - is limitless: Children can learn new skills, teachers can design new and previously unimaginable curricula and the broader community has a resource for their socioeconomic development. Equipping schools with computers, content and training teachers in how to use the Internet to improve learning via experiential, interactive, multi-country projects delivers real and sustainable results.

Responsible Recycling

Fill minds, not landfills. WCE advocates for reuse of computers globally, working to raise public awareness in developing countries of the need to recycle and identifying and supporting existing recyclers. Our volunteers, guided by experts on our WCE eWaste Consortium, have researched and created 32 Spanish language documents related to toxins and responsible recycling of computers, identified recyclers in developing countries and working with them to adopt more responsible approaches as well as reached out to local private entrepreneurs to establish regional responsible recycling hubs.