Charities and the Internet.

Most of the time I tend to take my connection to the internet for granted. Way for granted... even though it is a majorly important part of my life. But some people don't have access to the internet and don't know its wonders. They have no idea about youtube, about blogs, about all the things that I do on a daily basis... I'm lying - more than a daily basis.

In society when you don't have enough money to buy food, you really don't have enough money to spend on non-essentials like a computer, or an internet connection. That's where this charity, Infoxchangehttp://www.infoxchange.net.au come into the picture. The founder, Andrew Mahar, decided that he would do something about this. Using ex-government computers done up by a team of long-term unemployed workers, the organisation hands out these computers to families in communities that need them most. They then go about connecting the houses to the internet, and away they go.

I don't think the majority of people would realise how much help having the internet is to underpriveleged people. Aside from having access to things like job search websites, email, internet banking etc., they also have access to knowledge which increases their opportunities in society. Mahar also argues that in underpriveleged communities the things that bind them are all negative - drug problems, violence, unemployment, family problems -but bringing in computers and internet connection can bring a positive aspect to the community.

I am a big fan of this charity, even though I only found out about it a few days ago, because in Uni we studied the homeless issue and found that one of the biggest problems that people have is getting their foot in the door. If you have been long-term unemployed or long-term homeless, your opportunities are greatly decreased because employers make negative assumptions about the people. Having the Internet gives them access to information that could better their situation, opportunities to make their way up in the world, and back into the community of employed "useful" members of society.

Anyway. Just thought I would point it out because I think its an awesome idea, and seems to make an attempt to make a difference rather than a band-aid solution to a widespread, deeply seated host of problems in society.

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