Jia Chenchlani (left) and Anisha Surily (right) preparing donation boxes.
Do you have an old phone, laptop, tablet, or even just a charging brick that’s collecting dust? Want to dispose of it, but don't know how? Donate your tech of yesteryear during the Eden Prairie High School Grateful for Gadgets tech drive, now through Sunday, Nov. 24.
Hosting the drive is Tech to Transform (TTT), a computer science advocacy organization created by EPHS 11th graders Anisha Surily and Jia Chenchlani. After the passionate techies did some research on computer science curriculum requirements in Minnesota high schools, they were surprised to find that the state, like many across the country, does not require a tech credit for high school students to graduate That leaves many Minnesota students without the computer science and technology-based courses available to them at EPHS. Further research found underwhelming state and nationwide computer science literacy rates amongst children and adults.
Feeling a calling to put their passion into action, the students founded TTT to join the fight in bridging the digital divide. “Our mission statement is to bring computer science literacy to people of all ages and backgrounds,” Surily stated.
Tech to Transform consists of two foundational pillars: knowledge and access. Surily and Chenchlani hope that by fostering wider access to technology through initiatives like the tech drive, they will positively impact digital literacy in their community. All donations will go to Free Geek Twin Cities, a nonprofit and thrift store that reuses technology and enables digital access.
“It doesn’t matter how old or broken your old tech is, Free Geek will accept almost anything,” Chenchlani explained. “They’ll refurbish it if it’s reusable and sell it at a super affordable price. If it’s not, they’ll recycle it in an environmentally safe way. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’ll take whatever you can give us, which is why it’s called Grateful for Gadgets!”
The girls’ goal is to collect 250 pieces of technology by the end of the drive. You can make your contribution by finding one of their purple collection boxes at Eden Prairie High School, the Eden Prairie Community Center, or the PROP Shop.
Once the drive is over, Surily and Chenchlani agree they are looking forward to more opportunities to carry out TTT’s mission, including promoting computer science education at schools without the classes and technology available at EPHS, teaching safe technology practices to senior citizens at senior living homes, and working with state officials to provide more technology-based learning opportunities for all Minnesota high school students. They also have their sights set on competing in the Community Awareness Project category at the state’s DECA conference later this school year.
In the meantime, they are excited to see the community show their support for the inaugural Grateful for Gadgets tech drive.
“This is a really great way to help people,” Chenchlani said. “There are so many people across the Twin Cities and all of Minnesota that can’t afford a phone, computer or tablet. So we encourage you, even if you aren’t sure if your old tech is usable, to please still donate, because you could be helping so many people access technology they need.”