EZ Street, WPGC Computer Giveaway Contest Will Connect African and American Students

When it comes to technology and the Internet, many area schools are lagging behind the national standard. EZ Street, rush hour radio personality of WPGC 95.5 FM and CEO of Take it EZ Travel, and Keven Jones, president of i3Link Communications, a black-owned Internet company, plan to do something about that."We have three goals: to create excitement about the Internet in youth at an early age, to create awareness of the problem of the `digital divide' and to inspire others to get involved," Street said.

The pair collaborated to create Project Bridges, a contest designed for elementary and middle schools in D.C., Virginia and Maryland. The entrants, one drawn randomly from a classroom in each area, will win a Dell or Compaq computer fully equipped with a camera and Internet access to communicate with students in Africa.

"I'm trying to create a bridge between youth in America and Africa," Street said.

Many area teachers are excited about the program; they see it as an excellent learning opportunity for the students.

"With technology, the world is a blink of an eye away and teaching the kids how to communicate, and how to do it well, is imperative for us to continue to grow. International communication is paramount," said Anton Davis, a 5th grade teacher at James Randall Elementary School in Clinton, Md. Davis plans to encourage all the teachers at his school to enter the contest in order to increase the school's chances in winning.

"Hopefully, the program will be expanded next year," said Dawn Brown, the public relations director for the project.

Brown is a parent who is also encouraging her children's teachers to enter the contest. "I'm working with this because I really like what EZ Street is doing," she said.

The two schools in Africa that will be receiving computers and other school supplies are the Asankrangwa Primary School in Asankrangwa, Ghana, West Africa; and the school that former First Lady of South Africa, Winnie Mandela attended. Winnie Mandela was at the Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast last Sunday to accept the gifts. Street and Jones will deliver the computers to Ghana themselves during the Take it EZ Travel's annual "Back 2 Africa Cultural and Spiritual Journey."

Street said that by setting up this transatlantic electronic pen-pal program, students will become exposed to the world. He said, "Your travels make you wiser."

"There are many stereotypes about Africa. When they see the kids, they won't see lions and tigers in the background, in reality, they'll see kids that look just like them," Street said.

Plans are in the works to expand the program to Jamaica next year.

The contest is open to both elementary and middle schools, and the deadline has been extended from Feb. 28 to March 15. To enter, send a fax, postcard or letter with the name of the teacher, the name of the school and your complete contact information to:
WPGC/Take it EZ Travel
Project Bridges Contest
4200 Parliament Place
Suite 300
Lanham, MD 20706
FAX: (301) 731-7485

The winning classrooms will be announced March 31, 2001. For more information regarding the Project Bridges Contest rules and Take it EZ Travel, go to www.takeiteztravel.com.

For more information about i3Link Communications, go to www.i3link.com.


E-mail Jacqueline Smith at jpsmith@howard.edu.