Business Analysis Intern Yennah Jeong recently rallied a group of interns and staff to put their skills to the service of their communities by volunteering at the Kramden Institute, a Durham nonprofit that provides technology tools and training to bridge the digital divide.
The suggestion came from her supervisor, Business Analysis Director Mona Nazir, and it struck a chord with Yennah's own volunteer background in Charlotte.
"I didn't know much about Kramden at first, but after doing some research, I realized it would be a great opportunity both to learn while volunteering and to support an organization that provides technology to community members in need," Yennah said.
After a Teams poll and some recruiting, Yennah was joined on July 10 by interns Abhijith Kadangot, Carla Rojas Rojas, Graham Hairston, Ian Ward, Kylee Ray, and Tyneilus Morrow, along with Mona.
Together, the team refurbished more than 100 desktop computers, inspecting each for cosmetic damage, wiping and reimaging the operating system, then verifying hardware specs and registering the devices for inventory tracking.
"I noticed the care Kramden puts into every step of the process, and it made me realize how much they focus on ensuring each device is in good condition," Yennah said.
The refurbished computers will go to K-12 students and low-income families in need – and for Tyneilus Morrow, knowledge intern with IT Service Excellence, that mission hit close to home.
"I also come from a low-income family, so I have experienced many of the same situations and circumstances," he said. "I understand how frustrating it can be to not have access to the resources you need."
"Knowing that families and students will have access to these devices is a great thing in itself," Yennah said. "I truly hope that students and families will be able to use their devices comfortably and that students will be able to further advance in their education with the help of these tools."
Volunteering with Kramden showed the interns that the same skills that power NCDIT can power their community, too, and that giving back strengthens the team as well.
"It was a great opportunity for the interns to get involved in the community through the NCDIT internship program," Tyneilus said.
"This was an amazing experience – a chance to learn, to work alongside my supervisor and fellow interns, and to give our time to a community that will benefit from these devices," Yennah said.
Our team continues to emphasize volunteerism and making a difference for others. Check out our Careers page to learn more about working for NCDIT and the meaningful public service we provide to North Carolina.
