I just live to highlight the good work of others, there is something about it that brings me great joy. Meet today’s charity spotlight representing the sunny state of Florida, Estella’s Brilliant Bus. Working as a guidance counselor six years ago in Palm Beach County, Estella Pyfrom , 2013 CNN hero, noticed that fewer students had access to a computer after school. The sluggish economy forced many families to prioritize their money and use it for more pressing needs.”They needed food. They needed to pay their mortgage or their rent,” said Pyfrom, a former teacher. “Some of them lost their cars. So I knew it was a serious problem,” as told to CNN.
Without a computer at home, or reliable transportation to get to a computer, Pyfrom feared that many of these students would get left behind. So she bought a bus, filled it with computers and brought technology to the kids. Her mobile computer lab, Estella’s Brilliant Bus, has provided free, computer-based tutoring for more than 2,500 students since 2011. The mission of Estella’s Brilliant Bus, is to create a network of opportunities that will provide educational training, and self-help experiences to underserved individuals and will empower individuals with self-help lifelong learning and access to technology and community services while partnering with community agencies.
“If people don’t have some knowledge of technology, they’re going to be limited,” said Pyfrom, who retired in 2009 and used money from her savings to buy the bus. “It’s absolutely essential that they get involved technologically.”
Pyfrom is determined to help poor children get the same educational opportunities as other children. According to the Institute of the Study of Labor, students who lack access to a home computer are less likely to graduate high school. Estella’s Brilliant Bus travels to schools, shelters and community centers throughout Palm Beach County, Florida.”The digital divide is absolutely real,” said Pyfrom, 76. “And it didn’t just become a reality. It’s been there for years, and it’s getting bigger and more important.” Pyfrom’s custom-designed bus is outfitted with 17 computer stations that are connected to high-speed Internet via satellite.
Emblazoned on its side are the words “Have Knowledge, Will Travel” and “We bring learning to you.” The bus travels to schools, shelters and community centers throughout the county. The program serves children starting with age 3 all the way through senior citizens, based on what the needs are. The bus is literally bringing the learning and the technology to the neighborhoods so that everyone can benefit from learning via technology.
Pyfrom and her army of volunteers hold regular classes and tutoring sessions about four days a week. They offer lessons in computer and Internet basics as well as reading, math or science classes that supplement what children are learning in school.
Sometimes, the bus simply serves as an open computer lab.The rules on the bus are few and simple. Among them, gum and Facebook are not allowed on the learning bus. This is proof that if you have an idea you should go for it, who would have dreamed a bus could bring so much education to the world?! We applaud Estella and her Brilliant Bus, way to give back and do good. For more information on this stellar organization visit and be sure to like them on Facebook by clicking here.
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