Hackers For Charity Projects
Education and Training
As hackers, we believe that knowledge is power, and one of the best ways to empower those in need is to provide free educational resources and distinct learning paths.
We have worked for nearly a decade with several trusted partners to produce educational solutions that allow anyone, regardless of age, skill or internet connectivity access to quality job skill and technical resources.
These projects include offline education initiatives, security awareness training, computer training classrooms and centers, and STEAM and Maker Training Initiatives.
Read more about the resources we have used, the organizations we have worked with in this space, or get involved by joining our community.
Disaster Response and Relief
Hackers have donated their skills and resources to disaster relief for decades, often jumping in well before larger organizations can mobilize. We are agile, natural problem solvers with high-tech skills in many areas of technology well-suited to disaster response.
As we’ve organized, we’ve learned a thing or two about what works in disaster response and relief scenarios.
Read more about the resources we have used, the organizations we have worked with in this space, or get involved by joining our community.
Community Service
“Hacker” is not synonymous with “criminal”. The overwhelming majority of us are security professionals securing the resources you depend on every day. We are active members of our local communities and once word gets out that we are “computer people” we help our neighbors with our technical expertise as we troubleshoot and repair their tech gear and network setups.
As individuals, we frequently serve our communities in small ways, but as a group, we engage in community service on a larger scale.
We have performed community service projects worldwide. To get involved or learn more, join our community.
Leather Program
Our leather program started as a simple idea to provide job skills to Ugandans that had lost everything in a local village fire. Thanks to the support of the hacker community, we raised enough money to provide food for the victims and rebuild their homes. As donations continued to come in, we realized that our rebuild hadn’t helped long-term since many of the victims didn’t have jobs or skills.
Johnny and Jen used remaining donation money to purchase tools and equipment and they learned leather crafting using materials from a local tannery that had been exporting its leather. Eventually they learned enough to begin teaching and the program grew from there. The program is still in operation today. Read more about our program here.
Our Stories
76,000 Refugees
The last of thousands of Afghan refugees who awaited resettlement at eight U.S. military installations departed Saturday from a base in New Jersey, completing a journey that started with the [...]
Afghan Refugee Assistance: A much longer road…
Now free, all they ask for is the ability to provide for their family and pursue their new lives. Unfortunately, even the best intentions result in failures. Some refugee families are still living in hotels. Imagine going on vacation with your family and living in a hotel room for months and months. Children’s bed times, food prep, proximity…can you sense the emotions?
Virtual Afghan Summit
On February 6th, HFC attended the Afghan Summit hosted by United Nations Association of the National Capital Area Chapter and Luminus Network for New Americans. As you watch this summit, you will get an introduction to inclusion and Afghan cultural competency, as well as hear firsthand about the current and future needs of recently arrived Afghans in Maryland.
Afghan Refugee Assistance: Next Steps
You can help! Many families left with barely the clothes on their back. Given our partnership with other charities and ministries, we are focused on technology solutions: Our current [...]
Afghan Refugee Assistance: First Efforts
While our efforts in Uganda have continued through the pandemic, we've also been busy here in the US. In August 2021, the world watched the tangled situation in Afghanistan. The United States (US) State Department, under a program called “Operation Allies Welcome,” granted about 74,000 refugees with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) because of their selfless assistance to the US which put them in extreme danger from the Taliban.
Teaching the next generation of Computer Science Leaders in Uganda
With the COVID19 pandemic impacting the world, it has been tough times for Hackers For Charity in Uganda also. With the lock-downs and school closures, the busy Computer Training Center [...]