American Tech teen sends computers to Jamaica
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Tuesday, April 03, 2001
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Aaron Greenspan is an unusual American teenager. Just 17 years old, Aaron is president and CEO of his own technology company, Think Computer, a sales and service organisation operating from his parents' home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with franchises for Dell and Compaq computers and an impressive list of corporate clients.
Winner of the 1999 USA Teen Entrepreneur of the Year award, Aaron is a full-time high school student majoring in economics who has been accepted to enter Harvard in September. However, in addition to all that, for the past three months Aaron has been collecting computers and software and shipping them to Jamaica in a unique effort to give technology help to Jamaican youth. As a result, Air Jamaica will fly Aaron to Jamaica on April 13 to help unload his first shipment and to participate in an Easter technology workshop for Jamaican students.
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| Aaron Greenspan |
The idea for the Computers for Jamaican Kids project was born when Aaron and three other US tech teens met Jamaican 'whiz kid' Makonnen Blake Hannah at a youth technology forum at NASA Kennedy Space Centre last October. The five talked about Jamaica and the work being done though Makonnen's TechSchool - a unique cyberschool -- to bring technology to Jamaican youths. Learning of the great need for equipment, the four Americans decided that they could help by asking for donations of used computers from American companies.
With the help of Melissa Sconyers, one of the five who had visited Jamaica in 1999 as a student tutor at the TechSchool summer workshop, Aaron started the Think Computer Foundation outreach for Jamaican youth. Using a database programme he has created (and for which he has already been offered a sizeable purchase offer), Aaron set up a section of his website where information on the donations can be accessed, and started collecting. Within weeks he had collected his first shipment.
With doors opened by an American adult visitor to Jamaica who supported the concept, Aaron contacted Air Jamaica's shipping offices in Atlanta, which agreed to ship whatever used technology equipment Aaron collected to Jamaica for distribution through TechSchool, whose students will be the first beneficiaries of the donations. TechSchool students include several in children's homes, as well as past students from high and technical schools who have no computers.
So far Aaron has shipped ten boxes of assorted equipment, computers, printers, cameras, zip drives, modems, network and sound cards, and educational CDs. More is on the way, in time for Aaron's participation in this year's TechSchool Easter workshop. There Aaron will share his extensive technology skills with Jamaican youth, and address a meeting of technology information and demonstrations to be hosted by his friend Makonnen for 500 Jamaican youth.
Aaron is looking forward to commencing Harvard University in the fall, which so recognises his superior computer skills and entrepreneurship that it has allowed him two free periods a day to maintain his technology activities.
More than that, Aaron Greenspan looks forward to visiting Jamaica. He participates at high school in an activity called "model UN", in which Aaron has been a "shadow ambassador" for Jamaica, learning much about the island in the process.
At the recommendation of Youth Consultant Makonnen, both Aaron and Melissa have been invited to sit with four Jamaicans on a youth advisory council reporting monthly to Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell on issues and ideas for youth in technology. Working with Jamaica in meetings linked by Internet messaging services, American youth will keep Jamaica informed of new developments in American technology, as well as interesting projects for Jamaican youth.
The link with Aaron Greenspan through TechSchool and Makonnen, offers a little extra to the regular fare of computer activities and information available for Jamaican teens. Help from Jamaican organisations like Air Jamaica will enable as many students as possible to meet and learn with Aaron Greenspan.
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