(Hayward, CA) – The 5ive Pillars Organization is pleased to announce Connecting Newcomers, a new program in partnership with Corporate eWaste Solutions (CEWS) to bridge the tech gap and reduce emissions through a laptop refurbishment initiative that will benefit new refugee and migrant arrivals across Northern California. 

 

“Our momentum continues to bridge the digital divide and we are excited to enhance opportunities with this innovative social impact programming that will empower newcomers and facilitate employment, education and healthcare access, while fostering environmentally friendly practices,” said Zuhal Bahaduri, Executive Director of The 5ive Pillars Organization. “This a whole-world approach to supporting our community in its entirety,” Bahaduri added. 

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With this new partnership, The 5ive Pillars Organization and CEWS aim to reduce digital barriers for new arrivals, while also keeping electronic waste out of landfills that would otherwise contribute to increased emissions that impact our region’s climate.
 

 “This partnership is a game-changer for low-income families and refugees who face barriers to accessing technology. By providing refurbished laptops and Chromebooks, this program empowers people to connect with the digital world, access education resources and search for job opportunities,” said Chiman Lee, Director of Operations for Northern California for CEWS.  
 

“We believe that access to technology is a fundamental human right, and we are proud to be making a real difference in the lives of those who need it the most,” Lee said. 
 

The CEWS Tech for Good initiative has helped local communities by promoting youth education and adult job training opportunities while reducing electronic waste. The 5ive Pillars Organization’s Bridging the Tech Gap project has helped get nearly 2,000 Chromebooks in the hands of Afghan newcomers in partnership with Afghan American Foundation, Hewlett Packard and Welcome.US. 
 

Both organization’s initiatives now consolidate under the Connecting Newcomers program to provide free, refurbished laptops to qualifying migrants, and interested candidates will be directed to a free software development program to advance their technical skills. For more information on the application process, or to donate your used desktop to be refurbished and used for good , please visit The 5ive Pillars Organization website at the5ivepillars.org. 

 

The 5ive Pillars Organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aids in the resettlement of refugees in California.  The 5ive Pillars Organization’s resettlement team responds to refugee and migrants’ needs by providing resettlement support , community engagement activities, and educational workshops.
 

Corporate eWaste Solutions is a nationwide R2v3, CalRecycle, DTSC and ISO certified electronics reuse and recycling solutions provider. They create custom solutions to support organizations' sustainability goals, specializing in electronic asset recovery, data security, data and product destruction, eWaste recycling, plastic recycling, collection events, OEM RMA support, logistic support, regulatory reporting support and social impact programs.