Lynn Bender

Back in February 2008, GeekAustin alumnus Michelle Greer asked me how she could obtain computers for the Burmese refugees she was helping (story and story). She didn't have a lot of money to throw at it, and no ready sponsors, so the whole thing would have to be done on the cheap. I asked around on her behalf, and quite a few friends offered to donate computers. However, most of the machines offered ran older versions of Windows, and even though most of the machines probably wouldn't have the CPU and RAM to run a current version, buying Windows licenses to update 50 computers was out of the question.

The reality was that the refugees needed free computers, and this meant that both the software and hardware needed to be free - free as in freedom and as in beer. Linux was the solution.

I decided that I would hold a massive Linux install fest. I'd take advantage of the GeekAustin network, take donations for computers, take over a downtown Austin club for the day, get a room full of my Linux-loving buddies, and install Linux on all the machines. No doubt we'd get more than enough machines for the refugees, and everything left over, we'd donate to folks who needed computers. Michelle and I came up with a catchy name for the event -- Linux Against Poverty.

Although we mentioned it to a few friends, both Michelle and I were already committed to other projects. Frankly, there were also a lot of operational details that would have to be worked out. This would be a little more complicated than the typical GeekAustin party. The project was put on the back burner.

Enter The HeliOS Project

Jump forward to December 2008: I heard the kerfuffle about the AISD school teacher who chastised a student for passing out Linux CDs (GeekAustin coverage, Omar Gallaga's coverage). The CDs had come from a local fellow and Linux advocate -- Ken Starks. While discussing the story with him, I learned that Ken founded and leads an organization, The HeliOS Project, which takes old computers, installs Linux on them, and donates them to disadvantaged children in Central Texas. In 2007, they built and placed 228 computers, and in 2008, bumped that number up over 325.

I shared with Ken my idea for the Linux install fest, and expressed that, since Kens was already doing something very similar, there didn't seem to be much reason for me to pursue it.
Ken disagreed, telling me that, for every one computer they place, they have requests for three. (Omar's coverage)

This got me thinking about the Linux Against Poverty Install Fest again. I figured that, if I got the word out, I could probably get at least a few hundred computers for donation. Every company I visit seems to have a stack of older Dells, decommissioned and waiting to be hauled off. Once received, I had no doubt that we could find sufficient Linux advocates who'd take a day off to install Linux on a stack of machines, and Ken assured me that we would have no problem finding welcome homes for these additional machines.

For the first Linux Against Poverty Install Fest in August, 2009, we collected over 200 computers. If you value them conservatively, with monitors, at about $150 each, we provided $35000 worth of computers to Central Texas children.

We've decided to host a second Linux Against Poverty Install Fest on Saturday, June 19th, 2010. This year we're shooting for 300 computers. Over the next week, I'll be posting info on how to donate, how to volunteer, and how to sponsor.

-Lynn Bender,
Linux Against Poverty
lynnbender@geekaustin.org