Who we Are
Partner in Solidarity is is the international computer placement program of NextStep Recycling, a 501 c 3 non-profit organization based out of Eugene, Oregon. Our major project is in Quetzaltnenango, Guatemala where we work to bring computers and technical education to the area's rural schools and NGO's. In the Guatemalan Department (State) of Quetzaltenango there are approximately 750,000 people. According to the Ministry of Education, less then 1% of the Department's public schools have computer labs, a fact which is especially evident in the rural, mostly indigenous areas. Further, computer literacy is a pre-requisite for university study in Guatemala, as well as being a gateway to employment opportunities throughout the region. Partners in Solidarity, along with its partners NextStep Recycling and INEPAS, seeks to 'Bridge the Digital Divide' so to speak and help provide access to technology and technological education to the students of these schools.
NextStep Recycling is a non-profit computer refurbishing and recycling organization. They are dedicated to providing refurbished computer equipment to schools, non-profit organizations, and economically and/or physically disadvantaged individuals. In addition, they serve the community and the environment by recycling obsolete/non-repairable donated electronic equipment. They are able to provide computers to the public by refurbishing used computer equipment for which businesses, corporations, and individual donors no longer have a use.
When the computers arrive in Guatemala, by way of container ship, they have already been loaded with Microsoft Windows, as well as Open Source software such as OpenOffice and GIMP. Partners in Solidarity volunteers load Spanish language educational software, as well as software which teaches the language and culture of the local indigenous Mayan population, Quiche. This software is developed by a Guatemalan NGO called Enlace Quiche.
Recipient Schools
A list of schools which recieve computers and assistance from Partners in Solidarity.