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Geeks w/o Borders?

Posted by Cliff on from the helping-out-the-global-community dept.

Jesus Hernan asks: "I have a couple of months to fill this year and - being a Linux geek with 6 yrs experience and in general a real nice guy - I was wondering if there was any organization akin to Doctors Without Borders that offers aid to technologically impaired countries, i.e. building computer solutions with cheap hardware, the like." Well, I'm aware of one organization that might foot this bill: The Geek Corps. Slashdot did an article on them a while ago and they look to be doing some really good stuff. Do any of you know of other similar organizations out there?

6 of 11 comments (clear)

  1. I don't know of one by Zachary+Kessin · · Score: 2

    But maybe there should be. On the other hand I think that in many places what they need are "Civil Engineers without borders". I think MSF (Doctor's without Borders) is a great group who do work that makes our world a better place. But was thinking that in a lot of places there are vilages or towns that could use a good and inexpensive solutions for problems like clean drinking water and sewers. One of the reasons why life expectency in places like the US has gone up over the last 100 years is that you can more or less count on being able to turn on a tap and get drinkable water. And of course decent sewers to go with them.

    We should always be looking for ways to make the world a better place.

    --
    Erlang Developer and podcaster
    1. Re:I don't know of one by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 2
      On the other hand I think that in many places what they need are "Civil Engineers without borders".
      My girlfriend, who's an environmental engineer, is trying to start an "Engineers Without Borders" organization along those lines. (She's done a lot of work in using natural system to treat wastewater.)

      She's just getting started with it, but has gotten good response from the people she's talked to. If anyone would like more information, e-mail me (remove "spambefuddler-") and I'll put you in touch with her.

      Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | http://www.infamous.net/

      --
      Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
      You cannot wash away blood with blood
  2. Re:Uk Centred Work For Students by unitron · · Score: 2

    Not enough computer-illiterate relatives to keep you busy? :-)

    --

    I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.

  3. Engineers without Borders by nuggz · · Score: 2

    Why not just join Engineergs without Borders.
    http://www.ewb-isf.org.
    They have a few nice projects under their belt too.

  4. Non sequitor by Plague+You · · Score: 2

    If these countries are technologically impaired, where would they even get the money for "cheap" computers? It's not as if 3rd world countries have a bunch of computers lying around, but no idea how to use them.

  5. Check this out by deran9ed · · Score: 3


    Its not Linux related but you may find it interesting. lazy mans link

    --
    360 degrees of Karma