Our Work
Our (Carbon-Neutral) Footprint
What started as a high school project has become a global mandate for change. With no external funding since our inception, we have been able to impact thousands of individuals with the help of our community and partners.
A High School Project in Queens, NY
The Silicon Project began as a high school initiative. We partnered with local student organizations to collect old computers from our neighbors in Queens, initially just to divert e-waste from landfills. Our operations were simple, our mission was clear, and we were powered entirely by passion.
From E-Waste to Empowerment
We landed our first major partnership with a Brooklyn recycling company. The model was transformative: we provided them with e-waste, and they gave us refurbished laptops in return. This allowed us to make our first donations to members of a local church who couldn't afford their own computers, shifting our focus from recycling to direct impact.
The 100-Laptop Challenge
A family-owned business in Queens generously donated over 100 laptops. Working after school out of our friends' mom's car, we delivered these devices to the non-profit Project Rousseau, directly reaching migrants and homeless individuals who were cut off from educational and professional resources.
Building Bridges, From NYC to the World
We deepened our partnership with Project Rousseau by building a full computer lab for their community using donated iMacs. As our reputation grew, we began receiving steady donations from both local businesses and billion-dollar companies, allowing us to expand our reach across the ocean to communities in Bangladesh, China, and Kenya.
Our Defining Year
Operating as a dedicated branch of the We Care Act, we solidified our model of sustainable, community-driven impact. This year marks the culmination of our grassroots efforts, having impacted thousands of lives worldwide—all without a dollar of external funding.
A New Chapter: The Silicon Project, Inc.
After years of growth and proving our model, it's time to take the next step. We are officially splitting from our parent organization to become our own independent 501(c)(3) non-profit. Our mission is more aggressive than ever as we expand beyond NYC to build a sustainable system for digital equity across the US.