Old computers are like puzzles, and with every wire and every part, a group of Durham students are putting together the pieces of their future.
"It takes patience, that's all. If you have patience you can do it," says student Brian Dudley.
TOP-CAT or Technology Opportunity Program-Computer Assisted Technicians hopes to teach people living in the inner-city how to fix and repair computers.
"I hope it will have a trigger reaction, the domino effect of you teach one and that person will teach another," says Dudley.
TOP-CAT is just one of several community outreach programs run by
North Carolina Central University
.
Wednesday afternoon, NCCU Chancellor James Ammons and partners from General Electric toured computer labs at a Durham high school and the Few Gardens public housing complex.
"By putting computers in strategic places in the community and in the homes and provide training, we can have success with this program," says Ammons.
Through the program, Niya Greene helps interested neighbors at Few Gardens go online.
The idea is pretty simple: They want to bridge the digital divide, and when communities, colleges and corporations work together, everyone benefits.
NCCU paired up with GE four years ago. Now, St. Augustine's College is looking into starting a similar partnership.
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