SAN LUIS Rassini Sponsors 200 Computers for Mexico

This shipment of 200 computers was sponsored by SAN LUIS Rassini, a business that has a brakes factory in the Piedras Negras area.  This company made a cash donation of $6,300 and paid for the trucking from Chicago to Eagle Pass, Texas. From there, the cargo moved across the border with the help of the Piedras Negras Rotary Club.

Rassini also had its technology staff visit each of the neediest schools in Piedras Negras and meet with Directors and teachers prior to selecting the 15 schools for the arrival of the computers.  They also worked with the Rotary Club to approach other companies in the area to donate the final $3,850. SAN LUIS Rassini arranged for the Department of Education to cover the costs of connecting the computers to the Internet. Half of the schools will be connected to the Internet within two months of the installation of the computers. SAN LUIS staff will also assist with the ongoing maintenance of the computers.

"We are very pleased with the cooperation we received from the schools, from the government and from our fellow business people," said Eugenio Madero, Vice President of Operations of SAN LUIS Rassini. "All of them understand that this equipment will enable young people in this area to get a better education and to expand their opportunities once they leave school." Mr. Madero is a member of the Board of Directors of World Computer Exchange. “Young people are eager to learn,” said Filiberto Garcia, one of the Rassini managers involved in the project. “Once these computers are installed, the students will find them to be exciting and valuable tools for learning.”

WCE hopes that this first full shipment will soon be followed by the second and that these will be seen by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) as successful pilots for further shipments to help connect more schools in Mexico.

Equipment donations for this shipment came from Walgreens, Kankakee Community College, the University of Chicago School of Public Policy, Turner Construction, the Youth Technology Corps Program and a major bank that asked to remain anonymous.  Volunteers from Walgreens also helped with loading software into each computer.“Walgreens is pleased to have played a role in this success,” said Millie Liggins, of IT Implementation at the national chain of pharmacies. “Our tech team members were especially happy to share their expertise in this worthy project, and they look forward to working to working again with World Computer Exchange.”