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Code Academy Tech-For-Good

lucypei

Training in programming skills takes a new prominence as an area of tech-for-good: previously, there was a great deal of focus on k-12 and university education to teach programming skills in order to increase social mobility and access to high-paying jobs, or just because STEM education is a good in some stories, or to increse diversity in tech fields as an end unto itself. 

Now re-skilling, in this case through a private corporation's CSR and advertisement campagin for new paying membership, is taking on new significance as massive layoffs and furloughing has left people at home, responsibilized to find a new job. Meanwhile, the tech industry is in quite a few cases hiring as reliance on digital connectivity for things that were once done in-person has increased with quarantining. 

Code Academy

lucypei

By matching purchases of Pro Membership of their programming training with five donation subscriptions, this private business is casting itself as socially responsible. They are re-skiling people who have been furloughed or laid off during the pandemic and this allows them to be competitive for jobs that are still in demand as programmers. Programming and tech industries are the most resilient in a situation of social distancing, as everyone more or less fully relies on digital connectivity for interaction, and this company is capitalizing on that situation to increase its paying membership while boosting its image of social responsibility. 

As a purchaser of Pro Membership, I'm doing a good because I'm "unlocking" the donations to 5 people who get the opportunity to receive training in a new skill through a premium version of a free platform, and this might get them employment. 

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erin_tuttle

The educational program in Haiti organized by Handicap International aims to train citizens of Haiti for careers as rehabilitation technicians and orthopedic technicians. The program is designed to provide a recognized degree allowing graduates to work as technicians under the supervision of physical therapists and orthopedic doctors. 

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erin_tuttle

Handicap International brings aid to places dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters. In this case the Rehabilitiation Technicians pogram was created in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, during which thousands of Hatians needed orthopedic rehabilitation or prosthetics and there was a significant shortange of specialized medical professionals. The program was created to respond to the need for rehabilitation professionals to deal with the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and the continuing care of those permanently disabled.

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erin_tuttle

This program is one of many run by Handicap International, and supported by the United States Agency for International Development. The program was run at Healing Hands for Haiti (http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14990-haiti-health-first-in-haiti-tra…), with instructors from the Universidad de Don Bosco in El Salvador. 

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erin_tuttle

The program is devided into two degrees with different requirements, the rehabilitation technician degree is 18 months or in-class instruction and practical experience while the orthopedics technician degree is 2 years. Hatian citizens over the age of 18 are allowed to take the course. At the end of both courses the students must pass the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics Exam to graduate.