Dell needs partners for YouthConnect

Dell, as part of its YouthConnect programme, is looking for non-governmental organisations to partner it to develop and implement programmes for its education and technology efforts across the globe. The pilot is being launched in Bangalore and Hyderabad and will subsequently be taken to Delhi, Mohali, Pune and Chennai.

YouthConnect is an initiative to promote education and incorporate math, science, literacy and/or technology skills development, for youth up to the ages of 17 years. It aims to provide youth with access to education and skills to prosper in the connected era.

The Dell Global Giving Program’s present geographic focus is India, where it will run the pilot. The project will expand to other emerging countries in future. It is still working on the right model to be used to expand digital inclusion.

Dell plans to use 1 per cent of its pre-tax profits for its overall corporate giving programme and through YouthConnect, it believes it will be able to reach that goal by fiscal 2011. The project aims to bring as many school-going children online in the urban areas as possible. Dell aims to provide additional support for education and digital inclusion initiatives the firm considers essential to ensure the next-generation’s success in the connected era.

Depending on the results in the first year, the funding could be increased. Dell is looking to the emerging countries to bring more people online.

“The next billion Internet users coming online will largely live in emerging countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China,” Michael Dell, chairman and CEO of Dell had announced at a conference in London a few weeks ago.

Dell believes that corporate giving when conceived and structured like Dell’s global YouthConnect creates a win-win situation for business and the public.

After India, the next request for proposals (RFP) will be invited from China and the pilot may start there by the middle of next year.

But, it may seem an odd time for Dell to be planning a project like this when the stock markets have crashed and earnings of firms are expected to be hit for some time to come. “Dell wants the project to be pan-India, strategic, proper and sustained,” said Lisa Huddleson, head of Dell Giving.