USAID, Microsoft to boost youth education with new hi-tech programs

Santo Domingo.- US Embassychief of staff Patrick Dunn, US Agency for International Development (USAID) directorAlexandria L. Panehal, and the Microsoft Dominicana country general managerJorge Cabeza on Thursday signed a preliminary agreement to use informationtechnology to bolster education and other Agency programs.

The partnership will promote training and empower youngpeople at risk through technical courses to increase their employmentopportunities and job placement.

Through the initiative Microsoft will identify technologiesand donate software on inclusive development and help students withdisabilities in schools with the USAID/LEA program.

“The alliance is animportant resource that will allow USAID and Microsoft to work together to findinnovative technological solutions to support a wide range of programs thatpromote development in the Dominican Republic through the education andaddressing the needs of marginalized populations,” Dunn said.

For his part, Cabeza said Microsoft’s Philanthropiescontributes with new and more impactful ways toward a social ecosystem thatbrings the benefits of technology to those who need it most. “MicrosoftDominicana strives to bridge the gaps within and between communities, throughbroad access to technology-which improves education and quality of life for residentsof these communities.”

“The alliance will strengthen, through technology andexperience of Microsoft, the USAID projects Baseball Is With You, USAID/Lea andYouth Alert,” the US Embassy said in an emailed statement.

It adds that the learning environment and reading capabilitiesof children between 6 and 18 will be improved. “Another benefit is thatstudents learn to develop software and will support activities such as hackathonsto create new technologies for children with disabilities.”