Upgrade Your World with Microsoft Windows 10

It’s a big day in the tech and business world as Microsoft consumers using Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Phone can upgrade to Windows 10, Microsoft’s newest operating system. Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade for the first year after launch and will continue to be supported for the lifetime of the device, at no cost.

I remember upgrading our family’s home computer decades ago — remember the Weezer Buddy Holly video CD that came with Windows 95? It’s always a big day when you can upgrade your tech and Microsoft is bringing back some familiar features with Windows 10, like the Start Button, and new features like Microsoft Edge, Continuum, and coming to Canada in the fall, Cortana.

To mark the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft announced that they will help 10 global and 100 local non-profits to achieve greatness by investing more than $10 million in cash and technology investments, and today we’re announcing that we’re bringing the spirit of that campaign to Canada.

Upgrade Your World

Using the hashtag #UpgradeYourWorld, tell @WindowsCanada about the people or groups in your community who are empowering others to do great things. Or join the conversation and tell Microsoft how you would upgrade your world. Microsoft will bring a few of these ideas to life in the coming months.

Microsoft has identified nine global nonprofits (CARE, Code.org, Keep a Child Alive, Malala Fund, Pencils of Promise, Save the Children, Special Olympics, The Global Poverty Project, and The Nature Conversancy) and would like YOUR help spreading the word to people in your community about the opportunity to vote for a 10th nonprofit that will receive $500,000 as well as Microsoft technology and services.

“Many of the kids have lived with violence or the threat of violence for much of their young lives. Feeling safe is a right we all have but one these kids have not enjoyed.”

Personally I would tell Microsoft about the volunteers at Covenant House Vancouver, that I have met through my years of doing the Executive Sleepout, and the work that Covenant House does for the community.

They have programs and outreach for at-risk youth including a Crisis Shelter, Drop in Centre, Street Outreach, and Rights of Passage.

Photo by Covenant House

From the emergency Crisis Shelter to Rights of Passage, where youth become self-sufficient, gainfully employed, successful individuals, Covenant House’s impact on our community, and the lives of BC youth, is extremely important.

Going beyond local and thinking global, I would also tell Microsoft about the Village Bicycle Project that I learned about while I was in Ghana delivering bikes to rural village youth in 2011.

Photo from my trip to Ghana in 2011

I met David Peckham of the Village Bicylce Project in Nsiana, Ghana where he was showing kids how to do maintenance on their bikes. “Bikes provide power and opportunity, allowing people to lift themselves from poverty. Riding a bike is four times faster than walking, the only choice for millions of Africans. People with bikes get to schools, markets, farms and health care in one-fourth the time, improving their lives and economic futures.”

How will you #UpgradeYourWorld? Share your thoughts on social media tagging @WindowsCanada and be sure to upgrade your devices to Windows 10!