YTC delivers youth-led robotics and STEM programs to underserved communities around the world. Our model is built on a cycle of learning and teaching: students who go through the program become mentors and instructors, leading the next generation.
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Working internationally, this approach allows the model to sustain and expand itself. Students from the United States teach students in countries like Ethiopia, who in turn go on to teach others across regions. Through this peer-to-peer system, YTC students build technical skills, and also nurtures a global network of young leaders who learn and grow together.
The result is our Corps of prepared youth provide an affordable,
accessible template that can both:
Connect
Communities
Locally and Globally
Educate Without Borders
​Our students are taught the basics that allow them to refurbish computers, focus on a fair donation process, and offer instruction to the community so they can join in on the process.
​(Peer-to-Peer, Synchronous Mentoring) turns students into inspiring teachers, strengthening our students' development of crucial skills while fostering the relationships that allow access to education everywhere.
YTC has the opportunity to help shape the future of education, and we are turning this vision into reality with the creation of the YTC Global Alliance.
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History
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Youth Technology Corps (YTC) was founded in 1998 in a Hispanic community on the west side of Chicago, with the mission of teaching students about technology by refurbishing and donating computers. What started as a small local initiative quickly grew into a powerful community-driven project that connected students with technology, helping bridge the digital divide in underserved areas.
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As YTC’s reach expanded, so did its impact. The organization created educational programs in technology and robotics, first in Durango, Mexico, and later across multiple countries. Through innovative use of video conferencing, YTC fostered peer-to-peer learning, connecting students from different parts of the world and providing them with access to high-quality STEM education. This global approach has allowed YTC to create a network of young leaders committed to solving local and global challenges.
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YTC's Secret Ingredient
The CEE and CSP Programs bring the world to Chicago.
YTC is proud to have a strong relationship with the U.S. Department of State, IREX, and the CEE and CSP programs, providing our teens with a global perspective through mentorship from international Fellows. As a testament to this collaboration, YTC's founder and president, David Finkel, serves on the advisory board of the program.
AT THE HEART OF YTC
Our local Community
YTC comes to life through the dedication of our students. They commit to personal growth, pursue meaningful careers, and become agents of change, shaping a local STEM ecosystem.
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Our students work to bridge generations, making the world a better place, one community at a time. While we embrace a global vision, our primary focus is empowering students to develop solutions for underserved communities, both locally and worldwide.
Our Mission
Prepare youth
for the technology-driven future through education and civic engagement.
Our Vision
A Corps of engaged people grows into successful agents of change, democratizing education and expanding access worldwide.
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