editors note: this now a completed project...to see the story on how it was done, please go here.
In one of their most ambitious efforts,
The HeliOS Project will supply the computers and materials needed to build the most comprehensive Learning Center in East Austin. 
Their goal is to make it the best Technology Learning Center in all of Austin Texas. We have located the perfect place for the Learning Center within the Religious Education Building in the Christo Rey Catholic Church at 103 Robert Martinez Jr Street. This building will give us the space, lighting and easy access we need to make it a conducive place of learning.
When asked why this project was especially significant, Ken Starks, Executive Director of The HeliOS Project replied:
"It seems that everything that concerns technical education is located on the West side of IH35, aside from Huston Tillotson. Look, there's no reason why the next Linus Torvalds or Steve Jobs has to come from a Westlake Hills address. These kids are smart, they want to learn and in my experience, they are not being given the opportunities they need to survive. I'm not making that statement based on some empirical data or statistics dug out of a census somewhere. I've seen it in my daily work for the past 4 years. It may not be our collective fault that this exists, but it will be if we don't fix the problem once we are aware of it. We hope that our participation in building this learning center here will change that."
Having already spearheaded efforts at the Space12 Community Center and The Settlement Home in Austin, The HeliOS project has a proven track record of getting the job done. This organization not only provides the physical hardware to build the labs and centers, they provide technical/professional and bi-lingual training staff to come in on their own time to teach these kids how to use a computer. They are also more than happy to volunteer their time to educate the parents as well.
Christina Fernandez Collazo, the Founding Director of Sí Se Puede initiated this project when Father Jaime Mathias of Cristo Rey shared his vision for a learning center to serve the Community of East Austin.
"I had some "free time" so I decided to throw myself into making this happen.". said Christina. "We have surveyed 100+ women in the community surrounding this Parish and have found that the majority are interested in participating in something like this."
The majority of those queried are either mothers or single parent mothers who are concerned that their children will not gain the education in technology they need in order to compete in the world they will grow into. As well, basic life-skills will be taught to the parents along side of the computer technology for the kids. It is to be an all-encompassing effort that will ultimately benefit the entire community. The HeliOS Project exists solely for the purpose of insuring they do indeed have this opportunity.
The HeliOS Project must complete the 25 unit Learning Center by the 31st of August, The Center will go live on September 1st. However, they need help from the private and business sector. Starks stresses the importance of community involvement.
"As a not-for-profit organization, our funding avenues are narrow and not without its share of potholes. We depend on the donations from the private sector to do our work. In the past, the community has not responded well to our requests. We are hoping that the community sees the value in what we are doing here and helps us get it done."
If you are interested in helping the HeliOS Project complete this effort, or you just want to support what they do overall, contact Ken at 512-739-9707. If you would like to assist financially, you can do so by clicking the donate button at the top right of this page.
And as always....thank you for being part of what we do."A child's access to technology should never be
predicated on the ability to afford it."
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