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The idea of throwing computers at the many problems of developing nations has long seemed ludicrous to me. However, I did volunteer for a time with the WiderNet Project at the University of Iowa. Part of the Widernet Project is to send rehabilitated (yet quite old) computer equipment to Africa. Yet the major component of the project is to seek out copyright permission from publishers of websites and, afterward, to copy those websites onto what are called "eGranaries". In essence, they want to send the internet sans bandwidth requirements to schools and universities in the developing world. What charities need to understand is that computers by themselves are worthless, they require a data infrastructure to be worth something.

However, after working as a clerk for a non-profit at the University of Iowa, Widernet, it seems to me that there are at least a few opportunities for tech positions that put mission over politics. Widernet hired programmers as their main workforce...the pay wasn't great, the work schedule was very flexible, and the environment was great...particularly since it was a fairly regular part of the job to meet with students and teachers from Africa who were making use of the project.

It seems to me that non-profits would be in need of skilled and experienced IT profs (being an Air Force vet would definitely, IMO, qualify you in both those areas). The drawback would be that you would be making a fraction of your corporate potential. The advantages would include less politics, a sense of worth about what you are accomplishing, and potentially a better-grade of co-worker.

Websites to check out:

Charity.org

Idealist.org

Non Profit Jobs

There are numerous other sites, just check Google. Additionally, if you get in contact with your local United Way (or similar group) that dispense funds to non-profits, they should be able to give a detailed list of local non-profits.

One of the tasks of the Widernet project is to take old PCs, install a static copy of part of the Internet on them, then ship the computers to developing countries in Africa so that they can benefit from the knowledge without having a dedicated connection. For working equipment, this would be an excellent way to keep the computers from being junked.

The eGranary Digital Library provides millions of digital educational resources to institutions lacking adequate Internet access. Through a process of garnering permissions, copying Web sites, and delivering them to intranet Web servers INSIDE our partner institutions in developing countries, we deliver millions of multimedia documents that can be instantly accessed by patrons over their local area networks at no cost.

http://www.widernet.org/digitallibrary/

Perhaps these folks would also like to get involved with this project.

We've (http://www.vh.org/) been approached by the widernet group to provide some content, issues such as updating the information and copyright abuse crop up right away.

Long term, I think it's a better idea to focus on getting better connectivity then band aiding the problem with solutions such as these. Notice no one addresses the langauge barrier problem, I guess all interested parties are assumed to speak English?

Tough problem, no easy solution.