14 DAY TRIAL // Twitter is reported to have invested $3 million (€091 million) in the construction of a facility center where homeless people as well as those living on low income will be given free tech classes.
Known as NeighborNest, the center is located in San Francisco, near the company's Market Street headquarters and was specially designed for both children and grown-ups interested in developing their tech skills. The company’s employees will volunteer to teach the less fortunate about computer science.
Twitter partnered up with Compass Family Services, a nonprofit agency which helps the homeless people from nearby neighborhoods, and according to San Francisco News, the CEO himself actively participated in the development of the center.
"Twitter employees care deeply about giving back to the community, and the Twitter NeighborNest will allow us to cultivate stronger ties with our local partners and neighbors," Costolo said for SF Gate.
Erica Kisch, director of the nonprofit organization, says that they are expecting at least 800 people in the first year only. If the figures prove right, it remains to be seen if the 200 Twitter employees and the agency's volunteers will manage to take turns in providing the technical support that these people come looking for.
The company is eager to come to the rescue of the disadvantaged
The facility is said to be endowed with a computer lab which can fit up to 40 people, as well as a conference room where workshops will take place in order to help adults find a job and get their lives back on track.
The 4000 square feet (371 square meters) also has a play room where children will be well attended while their parent are keenly studying.
The opening of the center is part of Twitter’s initiative to become more involved in philanthropic activities and lend a hand to the less-advantaged communities. The project is also meant to make children aware of the benefits of being technically literate as well as persuading them to pursue a career in the area.
However, these are not the only reasons why Twitter decided to invest so much money in the development of the center.
Although it would be nice to think that the company only had San Francisco residents’ best interests at heart, Twitter is known to have signed in for a community benefits agreement with the city, committing itself to helping poor people in order to avoid payroll taxes.