What is Imara?

Imara, after the Swahili word meaning power, is the parent organization overseeing all outreach efforts supported by MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL).
Imara's mission is to bring technology to under-served populations around the globe and to teach the people how to use the technology so they can continue to educate others in their local communities. more >>

Imara BBC Interview (MP3 format)
This segment done by the BBC focused on an Imara outreach effort taking place in Laare, Kenya. The segment explores the disparity of economic opportunities available in Africa to those with technology skills and those without, and uses the Imara program as an example of a successful program working to combat this problem.

Current Efforts

IMARA MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Navajo Nation Partnership between CSAIL and Dine College to develop college-level computer refurbishing class, which will then be distributed in their local community on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

CommuniTech A local effort aimed at bridging the digital divide between those who have access to technology and those that do not, by providing free computer training and a refurbished computer to those who successfully complete the class.

MEET Middle East Education through Technology. Educational initiative that uses technology courses to create a common ground between Israeli and Palestinian youths.

Laare Community Center, Kenya provides low-cost accessible computers and training to residents of Laare, Kenya.

LUMSLahore University of Management Sciences. Making MIT's Open Course Ware program available to users around the world.

Aligarh Muslim UniversityMaking MIT's Open Course Ware program available to users around the world.

Fijian IslandsProvides computer education classes for children in grades K-8 on lap tops donated by some of CSAIL's industry partners.

The Imara Project

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What is Imara?

Current Efforts