I remember when I learned that a mouse wasn’t a rodent, a keyboard didn’t have black and white keys, and a monitor wasn’t someone making sure I got to class on time. It was 5th grade, I was 10 years old, and it was the beginning of a love affair.

The start of a love affair

My suburban school in wooded Kent, WA got a room full of Macintosh Plus computers. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I spent hours with MacPaint illustrating stories and creating my own little works of art. Computers progressed, technology became more integrated into education, and in high school I created my first powerpoint presentation. While others created a basic (and probably easier to read) presentation, I created intricate graphics and complex transitions.

After college, I started my own company creating websites for non-profits and companies around the world. My love for computers opened up doors for me to meet CEO’s in the upper floors of skyscrapers, Executive Directors serving thousands of constituents, and to provide for my family. All these opportunities started when I was given the opportunity to learn the tools of what has become the new global economy: a mouse, a keyboard, and a monitor.

Waiting for that chance

There are 307 students in Nairobi who are waiting to see if they will get that same chance. They have never been on the internet, in fact they’ve never even used a computer. We have teamed with Candlelight School to provide primary school students with essential computer skills that will empower their educational and vocational future.

We only have until September 18th to raise $4000 from 50 or more donors. This will not only provide a pivotal opportunity for these children, it will also give The 1010 Project a permanent spot on Global Giving which will greatly broaden our reach.

Consider making a small gift that can open big doors of opportunity:
$10 – Purchases one mouse for a student accessing the internet for the first time
$30 – Covers the cost of a keyboard that hundreds of students will learn computer skills on
$50 – Provides computer servicing and maintenance for the entire lab for one month

Click here to use your mouse, keyboard, and monitor to change a life today.

I am excited to be writing all of you today as the new Executive Director of The 1010 Project. For me, it is the culmination of a lifetime of preparation through diverse and broad experiences. Adam has done a remarkable job over the last year, and I am honored to be transitioning in his footsteps.

I grew up surrounded by people who devoted themselves to helping others. This cultivated my spiritual convictions and helped me establish my personal priorities with a focus on serving my community. During my college days, my cross-cultural studies and experiences exposed me to a much larger vision of service. After four years of higher education I entered the world of web design and communications, working for several non-profits and then starting my own business, which I ran for 5 years. As an entrepreneur, I learned how to hire, develop, and lead people, as well as the value of providing outstanding customer service.

During the past year, I began to appreciate the measurable impacts of grassroots organizations utilizing the principles of social entrepreneurship and income generation. After conducting research on The 1010 Project, I contacted Adam to discuss the organization’s vision and my strong interest in helping realize that vision.

Working together WE can advance our vision of the cycle of poverty broken for every family in every impoverished community around the world.

There is a breathtaking story being told at The 1010 Project, and I invite you to continue helping us write it through your involvement and contributions. I look forward to meeting each of you in person and sharing my enthusiasm as we begin the next chapter in the growth of The 1010 Project.

Sincerely,

Brian Rants
Executive Director

Thank you once more for your continued support and please take a moment to read Adam’s story: http://the1010project.org/2009/08/05/next-chapter-in-our-story/.