Computers 4 Kids.
Guled Dahir, 13, with 23 Division Supt. Ron Taverner at the Computers 4 Kids donation at North Kipling Community Centre. The project was spearheaded by members of 23 Division's Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS) Neighbourhood Development Initiative in partnership with CNB Computers. (Sept. 2, 2010)
Staff Photo/CYNTHIA REASON
Guled Dahir sat at one of 10 recently donated computers at North Kipling Community Centre Thursday morning and carefully crafted a graffiti-styled thank you message using a paint program.
"Thank you Toronto Police 4 giving us computers," it read in off-kilter digital spray paint.
The 13-year-old, soon-to-be North Albion Collegiate student shares his home computer with a brother and four sisters, so he often finds himself using those at the Rowntree Road community centre.
The new computers, donated through Computers 4 Kids, a project spearheaded by members of 23 Division's Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS) Neighbourhood Development Initiative in partnership with CNB Computers, will be a huge help, Guled said.
"Some kids don't have a computer at home, or, like me, they have a lot of kids in the family and have to share," he said. "These new computers here are pretty good, too - way better than the old ones they had."
In all, Computers 4 Kids saw 15 refurbished Dell computers donated by CNB Computers through the Toronto police to kids in the local community - 10 to North Kipling and another five to the Youth Outreach program out of 1790 Albion Rd.
David Vickers, VP of Sales for CNB Computers, said there wasn't a moment's hesitation to help once the company was approached by the Toronto police for a donation to the project.
"We looked at the scope and said yes right away," he said. "It could have been 100 computers and we would have agreed. The real issue was: what is the need? It's great to see that the computers are going to be used for the betterment of these kids."
At both sites, the computers will be used as learning tools for single income families with limited resources - whether it be for homework, job searches and resume writing, or for one of the varied computer workshops that run out of the sites.
"This is a great opportunity for local kids to get at technology they otherwise might not have access to," noted 23 Division Supt. Ron Taverner at Thursday's launch, while clusters of excited kids gathered round as officers helped them boot the computers up for the first time.
Added Staff Supt. Tony Corrie: "Quite often when looking for a job, it's not talent but opportunities that open doors - opportunities to gain access to the world wide web," he said. "With this program, we're creating a safer and more prosperous community."