This program is designed to train children and adults with the proper procedures of assembling a computer from scratch. The curriculum in which was developed by the Just Willing Foundation has been certified and approved as the curriculum of choice. Program participants are involved in a 4 month program in which is designed to have them prepared to pass the Microsoft Office User Specialist Exam (MOUS) by the conclusion of the program. It also will assist them in preparing to sit for the A+ Certification Exam. The participants will also participate in a graduation ceremony that will present them to the community, potential employers, family and friends.

The Mentoring Component

Project Leaders are assigned to individual school sites in Orleans Parish in the Orleans Parish School District (OPSD). These project leaders are responsible for the coordination of daily Just Willing Foundation activities and the delivery of services to youth participants. The project leader is recognized by the school’s youth as their “mentor on campus”.

Tutorial Components

Students with identified academic problems have the opportunity to receive assistance with homework and study for examinations. Academic competitions are held involving spelling skills and knowledge of historical events and the community. Outside tutoring resources (fraternities, corporations, and adult volunteers) are constantly pursued and coordinated for those students with extreme academic problems.

Life Skills Component

During life-skills workshops, students receive instruction in areas of drug awareness, violence prevention, personal health and hygiene, decision-making, human sexuality, interpersonal relations, and communication skills.

Leadership Component

Strong leaders are necessary in building a healthy community. Emphasis is placed on leadership-development throughout the school year in life skills sessions. Opportunities for leadership are encouraged and evaluated at three yearly leadership retreats and during community service projects and special events.

Entrepreneurial Skills

Teenagers are given the opportunity to engage in five various business ventures: a T-Shirt silk-screening enterprise, a computer repair/resale enterprise, a film-making enterprise, a photography enterprise, a mural/neighborhood art project.

Community Service Component

Special community service activities are developed at all sites during the school year. Youth volunteers assist in community health fairs, neighborhood clean-up projects, smoke detector installation at senior citizens’ homes, stocking shelves at area food pantries, and coordinating voter registration drives. During the summer project, students perform community service projects in the morning, attend life-skills seminars in the afternoon, and participate in supervised team-building activities.