Project brings computers home

Deepa Bharath

This is the age of the personal computer.

Not having one is a huge handicap in a time when any mail that’s

not e-mail is too slow and anyone who does not have access to the

World Wide Web is cut off from an entire galaxy of information.

Cynthia Cotteta and Annette Smith understand that more than anyone

else. Both women collectively have more than 30 years of experience

in the high-tech industry. And they both belong to a group called

Assn. for Women in Technology, a Southern California nonprofit

organization that helps women in that field of work.

But now, the group has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity in

Costa Mesa to help six local families cross the “digital divide”

while they also get a new home built. The homes are being built in

the city’s Westside and will likely be completed by the end of the

year.

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County uses private donations for

its funding, materials, professional services and volunteer labor to

build simple, decent homes which are sold to qualified, very

low-income families for 1% down payment and a zero-interest mortgage.

Cotteta, president of the association, said the group decided to

help out Habitat for Humanity because they saw the need for

disadvantaged families to have access to computers and the Internet.

“Nowadays, a computer is almost like an appliance,” she said.

“It’s like a refrigerator and a dishwasher. It’s not a luxury any

more. It’s a necessity.”

Teaming up with Habitat was an easy choice, said Smith, who is the

association’s vice-president for fundraising.

“We had a successful fundraiser through which we raised $9,000 for

this project,” she said.

This money will pay for one personal computer and printer for each

of the six homes, Cotteta said.

“We still have to work out the details about Internet access,” she

said. “We don’t know yet because it’s a utility and we have to figure

out who will pay for that and how.”

Sponsors will also be donating software and wireless routers for a

truly high-tech environment, Smith said. Association members will

then spend at least two weeks training the families to use the

equipment, she said.

“At first we’ll send out a questionnaire to the families to find

out how much they know,” Cotteta said. “And then, we’ll come up with

a training program for them.”

The 85 members of the association will take turns to volunteer

once a week at the Costa Mesa site, she said.

“This is not only building up general goodwill,” said Cotteta.

“It’s a great way to support the community.”