Image via NetHope

The Patterson Foundation is a partner of NetHope, a global consortium of the world’s leading partners and NGOs that enable humanitarian organizations to better serve the developing world through smarter use of technology.

Emmanuella Stimphat lost so much following the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Her family’s home was destroyed. She lost her mother, who died from injuries from the quake.

In her own words, “life was hard.”

But now, through a NetHope initiative in partnership with Accenture and the Anita Borg Institute (with mentor support from Microsoft) she has gained a future – first through the NetHope Academy and now through Women’s Tech Connect, a new global online community and mentoring program that brings together professional IT women from the Western world with the next generation of women in technology in developing markets.

Monday evening we had the opportunity to hear Emmanuella’s story first hand at the 2012 NetHope Summit Women’s Tech Connect reception. Her smile says it all. There is nothing but gratitude when she talks about her job in IT, first helping Haiti restore broadband and now working with Save the Children. She is excited to be paired with a mentor from Microsoft who will guide her  through her burgeoning career. With powerful advocates of the program, like Rane Johnson-Stempson, principal research director at Microsoft, the future of Emmanuella and women like her across the world is bright.

This is just one example of how NetHope is leveraging technology and expertise to better the world. We look forward to learning more at the summit. Follow what we’re sharing from the summit on Twitter: @ThePattersonFdn #NHSummit12