Japan – NEC and Big Issue Foundation, a registered non profit of Big Issue Japan partnered to provide series of IT lectures to homeless sellers of the magazines.

Looking After the Shop by canonsnapper
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License

In FY 2007, NEC and partners “The Big Issue Japan Foundation,” an NPO supporting the self-reliance of homeless people, and “Shingawa IT Supporters,” a group assisting older adults and persons with disabilities in becoming computer literate, started a PC course for “The Big Issue” magazine vendors to teach them IT skills useful in re-entering the job market.

Eliminating the Digital Divide (NEC IT CONNECTION)

Their new programs take place every Sunday at Yotsuya, supported by pro bono teams of NEC.

Big Issue wasn’t this famous until a few years ago as far as I remember. But with this new program, I hope it’ll be easier and much convenient for us to keep in touch (blogs and Twitter) with sellers at stations throughout Japan.

You can follow Big Issue Japan updates on Twitter at @big_issue_japan.