Our Vision
To see underprivileged communities create opportunities for progress through education and self-actualization using 21st century technology.

Our Mission
The mission of the Empowering Minds Foundation is to narrow the technological divide that exists between the modern and developing regions of the world. Developing countries today cannot afford to purchase the equipment and provide the necessary training to keep pace with the western world. The Foundation will provide a long-term commitment in cooperation with host countries, giving them the tools to integrate 21st century technology into their education programs and create a myriad of job opportunities for those youth who attain secondary and college level education only to find few career opportunities.

The Problem Being Addressed
The industrial revolution came and went creating large disparities in the world between those countries that fully participated in the revolution and those that did not. Today, we have entered a new age, that of the technological revolution. Those countries that do not actively work on full participation will be left behind. Their economies will suffer. As others get richer, they will get poorer. However, jumpstarting technology in an environment where supply and demand is seemingly limited is a difficult task. Education has long been recognized as a cornerstone to successful development of nations. Few countries however, have satisfactorily solved the problem of how to provide their youth with an adequate education. We know that technology today is rapidly changing the global society. In the US we are using technology to help us address the problem. Information Technology (IT) such as fiber optics, direct satellite reception, computers, video conferencing and video disks have reshaped the delivery systems we use for instruction in the traditional curriculum. In Africa, a continent that still suffers the consequences of not fully participating in the industrial revolution, the thirst for knowledge is also great. Often people walk long distances for the opportunity to learn a skill. Indeed, people want to learn to help themselves, their community and their nation. Despite the desire for knowledge, the economic, social, and political conditions impede educational progress. With the advances in new communication and information technologies the problems caused by minimal educational progress are exacerbated. Technology today impacts the way countries operate and the way business is done. The developing world is losing ground due to its lack of easy access to new technology.

Developing countries cannot afford to purchase the equipment and provide the necessary training to keep pace with the western world. As the technological revolution continues it is imperative that countries in the developing world be prepared to fully participate.

The number of organizations beginning to work on the issues caused by the expanding digital divide is growing. Organizations and companies such as the Geek Corps - providing IT experts to assist small business in developing countries to improve operations; Peace Corps - providing technical experts to assist with the training of host country nationals, Big Bang - creating opportunities for information access; and the Joko Club - a local non-governmental organization (NGO) which creates centers for learning and computer training. These groups provide important and needed assistance. However, none of those programs provide a comprehensive approach to bridging the gap. The Empowering Minds program seeks to do just that by providing assistance with a host country's commitment to sustainability through manpower development and education. EMF helps increase access to and build the manpower needed in teaching new information and communication technologies without further reducing the already limited resources.