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IT Corps FAQ's9500 Arena Drive, Suite 350, Largo, Maryland 29744-2372. BDPA IT CORPS FAQs1. What is the mission of the BDPA IT Corps?“The mission of the BDPA IT Corps is to broaden the experiences and professional preparation of its participants through exchanges of technology and cultural knowledge that addresses community issues in the United States and in developing countries”. 2. What is the BDPA IT Corps?At its core, the BDPA IT Corps is a computer technology based, community development iniative. As an extension of the BDPA High School Computer Competition ( HSCC ) program, it utilizes select HSCC students to comprise teams of students who travel to international host countries to participate in peer group coaching that Is designed to create strategies and solutions to local problems utilizing recognition, on-going relationship building and computer technology. 3. What is the US component of the BDPA IT Corps?The US component of the BDPA IT Corps is similar to the international component. Students who participate in their local BDPA chapter's HSCC program are tasked to identify local community based issues, prioritize them and develop their best approach towards providing solutions using the experience and training they receive from BDPA. These efforts/projects should be relatively short term in nature; driven by the participating students; and focused upon their local community. HISTORY:4. How did the BDPA IT Corps begin?The BDPA IT Corps began with a response to a challenge given to BDPA by His Excellency, the Ambassador for Ethiopia, Mr. Samuel Assefa, as part of his keynote speech to a dinner audience at the BDPA Annual National Conference, in Washington, D.C. in August of 2007. Mr. Norman R. Mays a long time BDPA member, responded to the challenge by beginning to draft a proposal for the creation of such a corps. Shortly thereafter, he solicited the support and participation of Dr. Ademola ( Demo ) Solaru. Together they created what is today, the BDPA IT Corps. 5. What has the BDPA IT Corps accomplished to date?So far, Mr. Mays and Dr. Solaru have traveled to Tanzania and Zanzibar, Africa as participants in the 8th Leon H. Sullivan Foundations' Bi-Annual Summit, wherein they presented the concept of the BDPA IT Corps to several attending African country dignitaries, representatives of the US State Department and other official corporate and non-profit representatives. The concept received a very enthusiastic reception from all parties. Of special note - a donation of $5,000.00 worth of computer equipment was made by Mr. Mays on behalf of BDPA, the BDPA IT Corps and through The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, to an elementary school on the outskirts of Arusha, Tanzania. The equipment is available and awaiting the proper time and method of shipment. We also visited a local high school and were warmly received and they are looking forward to a future relationship with the IT Corps. 6. How does the BDPA IT Corps plan to expand its presence and influence globally?An International Advisory Council ( IAC ) has been established. The role of the IAC is to support the international presence of the BDPA IT Corps in an advisory capacity. It will assist the BDPA IT Corps in planning, implementing and its program funding initiatives. 7. How is funding support provided for the BDPA IT Corps?Funding is provided from the BDPA national budget, as well as from corporate and foundational support through the organizations' tax exempt non-profit organization - BDPA Education & Technology Foundation ( BETF ). It provides support for BDPA education and technology programs. PRESENT8. How can a student join or participate in the BDPA IT Corps?By contacting their local chapter of BDPA and participating in their Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship ( SITES ) program. A student must be participating in the SITES program to become eligible to participate in either the US or international component of the BDPA IT Corps. 9. Which countries on the continent of Africa are currently being considered for a team visit from the BDPA IT Corps?In addition to Ethiopia, we have contacts with key persons in Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Mali and Rwanda who are willing to support the introduction of the program in their country. 10. What other countries globally are being considered for BDPA IT Corps team visits?We have received requests from Jamaica and India. 11. What type of computer hardware will BDPA IT Corps students use during host country visits?Depending on the destination and its technical support capabilities, they will use either laptops, which most of us are familiar with or the One Laptop Per Child ( OLPC's ) laptops. FUTURE12. How does the BDPA IT Corps support the accomplishment of the overall goals and objectives of BDPA?As we see it today, the ultimate goal or objective of BDPA is to reach as many students and adult populations around the world as possible. In doing so, we will have helped to excite and provide leadership through our presence, as well as through our global coaching. To help solve their local community issues, a young new generation of students will have become proficient and capable of using computer technology. While doing so, the BDPA IT Corps will have become instrumental in exposing to world to BDPA. The BDPA IT Corps will:
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March 2010
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