HOME         Frequently Asked Questions

Background Summary

What does the organization do?  

How is it funded?  

How can I help?

What exactly will my donation go towards?

Do you accept old computers or equipment?  

Who are the staff members?

When was it founded?

Why did you pick Costa Rica?

What type of technical training do you offer?

Where are your locations?

How do you determine additional locations?

Who are the board members?

What are the adult students going to do after they finish the certificate courses?

Background Summary

Opportunity Access began in the spring of 2000. Charles Moore, the founder and Executive Director, left a 13-year career in telecommunications to initiate a way to bring computer and technology training to underdeveloped communities around the globe. In August 2000, Opportunity Access open their first public computer center in Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica. The pilot project began training with 5 computers and now has 500 computers serving the Limon Province of Costa Rica.

Opportunity Access provides the tools for people to learn computer and technology skills. The main focus is on computer and technology education. Our three core programs include:

1. Computer training in co-operation with the local public high school and primary school. Opportunity Access provides the curriculum, teachers, books, computers and facilities.

2. Community technical services to regional schools, woman's organizations, Indigenous groups, conservation organizations and others social service agencies.  We install, maintain, upgrade, and train users in computer operation and repair. 

3. Our adult computer operator courses (ages 16 and older) are geared to empower teachers, social service worker, and other community members to improve their communities. We offer a variety of five-week certificate courses, weekly e-mail seminars and operate a computer repair training program.

FAQ

What does your organization do?

 Opportunity Access is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to providing technology training to underdeveloped communities. We provide necessary computer training to children and adults so they can find economically sustainable employment.  We work with the Costa Rican school systems to educate children and provide classes for adults.  The pilot project began training with 5 computers and now has 500 computers serving the southeast region of Costa Rica.

How is it funded?

Initial funding was provided by the founder Charles Moore please see our sponsors page for a list of our supporters.  We rely on in-kind donations of computer equipment and services. Additional funding has graciously come from individuals contributions.  OA has received some small foundation grants and matching employee donations from corporate foundations. We also receive contributions from the community and some adult students as well.  We are seeking funding from established foundations and government agencies. 

How can I help?

 We rely heavily on personal contributions and in-kind donations. Even a small donation will go a long way to educate and empower communities, families, and children of Costa Rica.  Other ways to help are contacting your company to see if they have employee matching funds or even in-kind donations.  Sending out emails to your friends with this link is another simple way to help out.  For those interested in donating their time and sharing their professional skills we do have a volunteer program.

What exactly will my donation go towards?

 Your donation will be utilized to its fullest!  OA maintains a streamlined operation so that the majority of every dollar goes directly to helping families and the children of Costa Rica.  Donors have the option to make specific donations or just make general donations.  

Do you accept old computers or equipment?

Who are the staff members? 

Opportunity Access is committed to bridging the “Digital Divide” by helping individuals gain access to computers and computer training. The project has created jobs locally by hiring a diverse staff to teach and run the center. Our professors are also accredited teachers from the local school system with computer science degrees at the University level.

When was it founded?

 Opportunity Access originated in April 2000. The organization began operating its first computer center in Costa Rica in December of the same year. The founder, Charles Moore, left his job with the former Bell Atlantic Corp after 13 years.  He formed Opportunity Access Inc, a non-profit organization that funds and manages computer resource centers in communities that lack the resources to ensure that all members have access to computers, the Internet, and the training to use technology effectively.

Why did you pick Costa Rica?

The primary reason was a letter from the Director of Education in Cahuita, Costa Rica requesting assistance in technology and computer training for his community. The letter was originally sent to the Fairmount State Costa Rican Association (FSCRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating U.S. citizens about the importance of preserving the natural resources of the Talamanca region of Costa Rica. FSCRA forwarded the request to Opportunity Access.

Cahuita, like many towns in the Talamanca region has been slow to reap the benefits of public investment, unlike other areas of Costa Rica.  Thus, Opportunity Access determined that Cahuita had an established need and community members desired a program such as the one we wanted to offer.

What type of training do you offer?

The courses for adults (16 or older) are focused on the basic computer operating skills required to do a variety of jobs. The computer operator series of courses will allow students to work towards a  computer operator certificate, which is a recognizable credential in Cost Rica. We also offer comprehensive 1 year computer maintenance and repair courses, 10-week courses in computer networking and computer programming.

Opportunity Access is also working with the newly established local high school. Thanks to the collaborative efforts between the local teachers and Opportunity Access; the school now integrates computer instruction into the children’s curriculum.  In February 2002, by overwhelming demand we initiated a computer training program with the local primary school. Opportunity Access supplies the teachers, the facilities, the curriculum, and the books as needed for a computer course.

In addition, seminars are scheduled to teach specific topics including web-design and setting up an e-mail account. The center is also open apart from formal instruction to allow students to practice on the computers and allow residents to use the centers’ resources, including Internet and facsimile use.

Where are your locations?  

Opportunity Access Inc. is headquartered in Media PA. USA Contact

We are working to deploy our secondary computer and technology curriculum nation wide.

Opportunity Access has adults students from all corners of Talamanca. The diversity of communities in this region will provide us with valuable information when investigating future sites. The ten-year plan for Opportunity Access is to have public computer centers in five different regions around the globe.

How will you determine additional locations?

Opportunity Access builds its capacity in two ways. Once a computer center is established in a region, Opportunity Access expands to serve remote areas of that region. The other expansion is where Opportunity Access establishes a new main public computer center in a geographically separate region. The requests for Opportunity Access to set up a public computer center are evaluated based on the following set of criteria:

Selection Criteria:

·        A request from the community to establish a public computer center

·        The region must be in need of assistance in technology and computer training.

·        Opportunity Access determines that residents will be able to translate training into jobs that increase wages.

Who are the board members?

A diverse board of directors who represent a range of nationalities and political persuasions governs Opportunity Access.

What are the adult students going to do after they finish the certificate courses?

Opportunity Access assists graduates with job placement, provides nationally accredited certificates and recommendation letters. Most of our participants gain employment. We establish relationships with potential employers in order to supply the training needed for specific positions. Many of our students are also currently employed and want to learn computer skills to enhance their existing capabilities. Furthermore, many teachers who participate in the courses pass their new training onto their students in the public schools.