By Lyn and Arthur Dobrin

Our Kenya Fund has linked with The Canaan Foundation, a Connecticut-based program whose goal is to bring computer literacy to schools in Kenya. Each June, Tom and Heather Schultz, who run the Canaan Foundation, take used computers to Kenya where they are distributed to various schools and wildlife conservation programs. Tom, the CEO of the Dickinson Witch Hazel Company in Hartford, had taught secondary school in Kenya in the early 70s.

Last month, the Schultz's came to our home to pick up 36 computers, 13 monitors, 28 keyboards, 2 printers and 2 CD roms, which had been donated by local individuals and businesses. These businesses include Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, Crown Advertising in Hicksville and Hearst Business Publishing in Garden City and the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan. Society members who helped get donations were Ivo Antoniazzi, Steven Beder and Lucille Bush.

These computers are now being refurbished and will be shipped to Kenya to be distributed to various schools. One school that will benefit from the program is the Sema Academy, the elementary school in southwestern Kenya that is a project of our Ethical Humanist Society. The Society has raised thousands of dollars that has gone to support the building of the school, the purchase of equipment and to provide scholarships and pay a teacher's salary.

Computers are still being collected. Anyone with a donation should visit the web site: www.ehsli.org/kenya/kenya, or call us at 516-997-8545.