Software Donations Bring More Theater Programs to Birmingham Schools
For over 25 years, the Big Brum Theatre in Education Company has worked with tens of thousands of children and young people in the Birmingham and the West Midlands regions in the U.K. The company tours throughout the region to schools and colleges, bringing the dramatic arts to young people who don't usually have access to theater.
The Theater in Education program consists of a half-day or a full day's work with one class at a time. The classes are highly participatory and are crafted with the students' educational and developmental needs in mind. Student participation is often encouraged and always has a purpose. For example, the play element of the program might concern the death of people in a village because of contaminated water. The children are playing the roles of investigators for the UN, who must produce a report that will bring accountability to the polluters and set up a more efficient means of water purification.
After receiving a donation of new computers, the company realized that it needed new software and requested a donation of Microsoft Windows 7 Professional upgrades from Charity Digital Exchange, the donation program of TechSoup Global partner Charity Digital. Having new computers with the latest operating system helps all of the administrative aspects of the organizations work — from booking to marketing to fundraising — run more smoothly so that more time can be spent bringing theater to youth.
