13-year-old college student aims to nationalize non-profit business

Sunday, December 18, 2005 3:00 AM EST

By JOANNA MECHLINSKI

"The idea is to get a group in every county in the United States [refurbishing computers], so everyone can get a computer," said Komar, founder of non-profit organization Computers in Communities. "People are always going to need computers."

Komar, now a 13-year-old majoring in electro-engineering with a computer engineering focus at the University of Hartford, first conceived of the idea in 2001. He was at Lake Garda School, which his younger sister Ana, now 10, attended at the time. A janitor who knew of his interest in computers asked if he’d like to take one and refurbish it. Right away, Komar saw a world of possibilities for old computers that were no longer wanted.

"Every community has an excess of computers, ones that people want to get rid of," said his mother Alicja, who now serves as executive director. "Every community also has an excess of people who need them."

It didn’t take long for people to notice Komar’s work, or to acknowledge his efforts. In 2003, he received a national Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and an Angels in Action award, from toilet paper company Angel Soft. Last fall, he was selected as one of Teen magazine’s "Top Teens Making a Difference."

In November, Komar traveled to San Jose, Calif., where he was named a "Downtown Magic Maker" by the Third Street Community Center. Last December, Komar traveled to Santa Clara, Calif., where he helped employees of NVIDIA Corp. refurbish 400 computers -- some of which had gone to the Third Street Community Center, which services immigrant families.

"Instead of a Christmas party, they had a computer party," he said.

With Komar’s help, the center was able to offer computer classes for adults and children. If an entire family passed, they were able to take a computer home.

Most recently, Komar received a National Caring Award and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 5. Komar was selected as one of five young adult winners from across the country, from tens of thousands of nominations.

In the beginning, Komar accepted every computer he could get. He got lists of families in need from the Department of Social Services in Farmington, customizing the programs on each computer depending on the ages of the children.

Now, he prefers working with Pentium 2 or above, although he can work with older models. Komar mostly deals with PC-based programs, compared with the Macs of the past. He also has a standard list of programs he installs -- it usually takes about an hour and a half to redo the entire computer.

Komar, however, has established local help in his mission. A group of approximately 20 students at the University High School for Science and Engineering, a special magnet school run by the University of Hartford, where Komar once was a student, meets three to four times a week after school to refurbish computers, which area residents then come pick up.

"They usually get a little tutorial session on the basics," Komar said. "Usually the training center provides support."

People in Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Idaho, North Carolina and Arizona -- just to name a few places -- have heard about Computers For Communities through Komar’s Web site, news articles, friends or a variety of other sources, and are eager to get involved.

"Some are school groups," said Alicja Komar. "Some are really interested individuals who want to give back to the community."

The Komars have written a 30-page manual on how people can start their own branch of Computers for Communities, including tips on how to locate space, how to get through software licensing, and other topics they’ve learned a great deal about over the past four years. They recently returned from Atlanta, where they helped the "Dream Team" get started.

Recently, they also teamed with the University of Hartford and Hartford Public Schools, trying to get a grant from the National Science Foundation to start high school computer clubs across the country. The goal, the Komars said, is not only to get students refurbishing computers, but to teach valuable computer skills and build self-confidence, especially in inner-city schools where many students might need additional motivation to graduate. They are currently waiting to hear from the foundation.

"Imagine if every school had this," Alicja Komar said. "It would take care of so many problems."

In the future, the Komars said, they might consider expanding their connections to help send computers to those in countries with fewer advantages than the United States. The computers that are considered inadequate here, they said, could help a person learn basic skills that they might not otherwise have an opportunity to practice.

No matter what else Jacob Komar decides to do after graduating -- he has about two years of courses remaining -- he plans to keep Computers for Communities alive and expanding.

"I think once it gets big enough, it won’t be hard to maintain," he said.

In the meantime, Computers for Communities will be able to expand its local focus, thanks to a $2,000 grant from Bristol Savings Bank received this summer. The Komars plan to purchase a trailer to help transport computers and equipment.

"It’s a lot more than just giving computers," Alicja Komar said. "It’s touching lives and giving hope."

For more information, go to www.computers4communities.org.