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.:Resource Guides:Technology-Profile: Geekcorps
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Technology
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Profile: Geekcorps
According to a recent survey of Internet users by NUA, over 59% of all Americans have access to the Internet. In places like Ghana, that figure can get as low as 0.2% of the total population. In a world
marketplace increasingly dominated by technology-driven corporations, businesses in developing nations may need technological assistance to survive. Geekcorps has emerged as a leader in providing skilled volunteers to businesses in
countries like Ghana.
Ana Maria Harkins, Program Director and former employees Carol Guernsey and Ellen Schneider work(ed) at Geekcorps headquarters in North Adams, Massachusetts, USA. Carol and Ellen are former Peace Corps volunteers with backgrounds in social services. Unlike many
technology organizations not all employees (Ethan Zuckerman, a former Vice President at Tripod and founder of Geekcorps), have a technology background . The following interviews share some of their experience at Geekcorps.
| What is it about your organization that makes it unique? |
Geekcorps is one of the few nonprofit organizations that only helps for-profit businesses in emerging nations. We have always been focus on promoting and aiding regular firms. Almost all of the organizations that we help could never
have paid for the kind of consulting that Geekcorps, through its skilled volunteer base, can provide.
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| Why do these businesses need help? |
Technology is a powerful engine of economic growth, and either your organization will deal with globalization and its consequences or you will fail. There's a small sector of businesses that have great ideas but have hit a ceiling
that they cannot get past. Those organizations are being ignored.
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| What would you call your most successful venture? |
We have had wonderful success with Ghana, in particular. Companies are lining up to get volunteers. Our successes there are the proof of concept for us; it works to help businesses.
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| Can you give us an example? |
Dan DiNicolo, one of our Ghana volunteers, worked with a large Ghanaian Internet service provider to help produce "Sava Series," an integrated broadband system that revolutionized the provider's business.
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| Where do you find all of your volunteers? |
Our volunteers are international and all over the political map as well. What they have in common is that they all come from technology companies and have had for-profit experience. That's the appeal of our organization; it focuses
on for-profit businesses. We also get a huge number of volunteers for only a few slots.
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| Do you think that there are any gender obstacles toward working in this field? |
The only problems with women volunteering that might occur would be in foreign countries, but they are always respected and are very good role models. We make sure when choosing countries to send volunteers to that everything is as
safe as possible.
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| What are the benefits of working for a small organization like Geekcorps? |
The office is very casual, laid-back, and non-hierarchical. It's also very flexible, which is pretty typical of a small nonprofit. We usually work 40 hours a week, although that can fluctuate. It might go up to 80 hours a week when
doing foreign services, but I doubt most people would call all of that time work. We also get good insurance and 3 weeks of vacation.
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| What is the hiring process like? |
We look for people who are competent and have good people skills. We also can't hire anyone who doesn't have basic computer skills. On other benefit of having a small organization is that everyone can interview potential hires.
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| Do you have any regrets about working for Geekcorps? |
| None of us have any regrets about working there. We all chose this kind of work, even if we could be making more money elsewhere. We all also have ties to this area. The loss in salary is definitely made up in happiness. |
For more information about Geekcorps, you can visit their website, http://www.geekcorps.org/. Also visit Geekhalla, the website of the Geekcorps volunteers.
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