PITTSBURGH -- Computers are a part of most people's everyday life but in other parts of the world, vital services such as hospitals are still using paper and schools have never seen a computer.

A Zambian woman in Pittsburgh is determined to change all of that.

"This initial donation, we became the first organization in Zambia to introduce the use of computers into primary schools," said Mbao Ngula of Project Educate.

Ngula came to the U.S. to pursue a babysitting job in California. Months later, she was in Chicago at St. Xavier University and realized there was a higher calling.

She wanted to help bring computers to the schools and hospitals of Zambia.

Ngula said she heard Pittsburgh was very supportive of nonprofits, so, "The next logical step was to come here," she said.

But she knew no one and had no connections in the city.

"I had a lot of people say it is not gong to happen," said Ngula.

Ngula was directed to Jeff Simmons when he was at the Bayer Corporation.

Simmons said he was moved by her story, so he and his wife made Ngula a part of their family, and over the next several years, they worked to get a shipment of computers to Zambia.

Last year, the shipments were sent with the help of a recent University of Pittsburgh graduate, Jamie Pelusi, and her parents.

Simmons said he continues to try to take baby steps with Project Educate.

"Seeing those pictures of the kids saying thank you touched me, and you see the need to get more involved," said Simmons' wife, Carla Simmons.

For more information on Project Educate, visit www.Project-Educate.org.

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