World Vision will benefit from Microsoft software donation to impact more than 2 million children and families in Latin America

More than 2 million people throughout Latin America will benefit from Microsoft's software donation to World Vision.
More than 2 million people throughout Latin America will benefit from Microsoft's software donation to World Vision.

San José, Costa Rica/Ft. Lauderdale, FL  (February 20, 2014) — Microsoft Corporation has donated over $10 million in software to World Vision Latin America and the Caribbean, which will improve how the organization works to benefit the quality of life of 2,114,987 million people living in 10,000 communities, in 14 countries where World Vision is present in Latin America and the Caribbean. The donation will empower and transform the way the staff that works within World Vision in the region by improving communication, collaboration and connectivity with children living in faraway rural communities.

Thanks to this donation World Vision will be able to improve the rural area’s connectivity in Latin America and that would allow to create “Community Knowledge Centers” to bring the technology closer to children living in rural communities. This also will allow World Vision to increase the level of the trainings, explore new horizons and reduce the existing digital gap.

In conjunction with governments, non-profit organizations and companies, Microsoft is committed to supporting young people and organizations to use technology, thus ensuring a greater number of new and improved programs which promote social and economic opportunities for all.  We believe technology can be a powerful force that opens exciting opportunities for nonprofits to better achieve their mission and accelerate their impact.

Through this donation, World Vision and Microsoft help address key social issues across countries in the region, such as the expansion of employment and self-employment in Honduras, the reduction of the digital gap in Nicaragua, capacity-building and vocational training for youth in the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Brazil. Additionally, this software donation will enable World Vision to:

  • Enhance efficient collaboration with SharePoint and Exchange Servers
  • Modernize in their IT departments with the latest software
  • Equip World Vision with Microsoft Dynamics CRM to drive their productivity to a higher impact in their local projects in the region

Office 2013 will allow them to increase their productivity and better organize their information, as well as provide better training for their beneficiaries, including youth.

“At Microsoft, one of our major commitments is to have a positive impact on society by enabling people around the world reach their full potential. Similarly, we recognize World Vision’s key role in boosting the development of children around the world and their work inspires us, which is why we hope that by supporting them through technology, we can help make a greater impact for the people they support and the communities they serve,” explained Jennifer Brooks, director of Corporate Citizenship for Microsoft Latin America.

“Microsoft has had a long term relationship with World Vision around the world, knowing that World Vision is committed to enabling build a brighter future for children and youth, and thereby make a real impact in real people’s life” said Brooks. “We chose to work with World Vision as part of our YouthSpark program, because we both are committed to creating opportunities for youth that make a real impact toward improving their employability and entrepreneurship, education, digital inclusion, and helps unleash creativity and innovation.”

“A very special thank you to Microsoft for investing in the future of the children in Latin America through our partnership. Both Microsoft and World Vision are committed to changing the world for the ‘least of these’ and as World Vision continues to labor for change in the communities, it is an honor to receive much needed technology from Microsoft,” said Ed Anderson, Global CIO of World Vision International. “The World Vision, Microsoft partnership is one that combines the community focus of World Vision with the innovation and world class technology of Microsoft.  Together we have created a transformational partnership what will have a lasting impact of the lives of the needy for some time to come.”

World Vision’s IT staff will continue to equip and develop the systems of offices and personnel working in remote areas, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean with state of the art technology, ensuring more rural communities are connected through e-learning and other platforms.

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About Microsoft YouthSpark
Microsoft YouthSpark is a global program which aims to create opportunities for 300 million young people in more than 100 countries over the next three years. This program, which involves the entire company, includes Citizenship and other business programs, both new and improved, which offer young people the opportunity to imagine and reach their full potential by connecting them with better educational, employment and business opportunities. For further information, please visit www.microsoft.com/latam/responsabilidadsocial/youthspark.

About Technology for Good
Through Technology for Good Microsoft is proud to work with more than 50,000 nonprofits around the world every year to provide them with affordable access to the technology they need to support their work in local communities, and to leverage technology to help them be more efficient, effective and innovative in doing their important work. Whether it is through our software donations, technology solutions for nonprofit problems, or Office 365 for Nonprofits, we strive to help nonprofits do more good.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.

Highlights

  • Microsoft software donation valued at more than $10 million
  • World Vision will create “Community Knowledge Centers” to bring the technology closer to children living in rural communities