The nonprofit group City Youth Now (CYN) in the San Francisco area has found that donated laptop computers can have an impact on some at-risk teenagers and young adults caught up in gang and drug-relate activities.  CYN recognizes the challenges in operating such a program and requires participants to demonstrate reading skills as well as the ability to make effective use of the computers.

 

From the article:

"The computer ... has helped me to get a job, do my homework on time and properly, and advance my overall education and personal life," said Orlando, who is now 19 years old and attending City College of San Francisco. He also uses the computer to stay in touch with his siblings, who were placed in different foster homes after his grandmother died.

CYN's donation program falls under the San Francisco government's "Digital Inclusion" program, which aims to narrow the city's digital divide. Redemtech, a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) provides a copy of Microsoft Office 2003 for $5.00 per laptop.

Refer to the full article for more information of how this non profit organization is applying technology reuse strategies to reach a neglected and difficult to reach population of young people.