An Introduction to Waco TECH

Technology Expanding Community Horizons (TECH) started as a vague notion that kids and computers were a good combination, but that opportunities and access were often limited in a number of local communities. After a great deal of discussion, Technology Expanding Community Horizons (TECH) was born.

The basic idea behind Technology Expanding Community Horizons (TECH) is that our world is ever-changing, and the most recent, and pervasive change, in our society is the technological advancements made regarding communication and education. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to take advantage of these amazing new ideas and technologies—in fact, many people do not have access to a simple computer, let alone the high-tech devices and training that are becoming an increasingly necessary part of everyday life.

In particular, children are affected by this lack of technology. Poorer schools can’t afford to provide necessary computer training to their students. In addition, many students have limited, if any, access to computers. As the world continues to grow and technological advances change the face of education and communication in our society, many people are being left behind.

Without access, training, or resources, many underprivileged families find themselves in a continual state of playing catch-up. These students and families can not access the technology, they are not able to learn the technology, and therefore they find themselves perpetuating their situation. Technology Expanding Community Horizons (TECH) was born from the knowledge that increased access and training with state-of-the-art technology will enable individuals of all economic levels to participate in the world around them.

With an increased knowledge and awareness of the technology, many children will find their educational activities greatly enriched, and many adults will find opportunities to develop skills necessary to be a productive part of the workforce today. Computers are not the solution to every problem, but at TECH we recognize that becoming an active part of a community means speaking the language of that community. The global community today speaks in terms of technology. It’s imperative that we provide opportunities for all of our local community members to become an integral part of that global community through increased, low-cost or free access to the technology of today.

- Lori Krasienko, Executive Director