Roger Kovacs wasn't looking for a cause, just a pen pal, when he discovered the plight of Tajikistan. The staff engineer at Aerospace/Communications Division headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, wanted to brush up on his college Russian. So he went to a website for Russian-English email exchange where he met a university student from Tajikistan. The correspondence from that Central Asian country painted a grim picture. The mountainous, landlocked nation of 6.7 million people has endured six years of civil war, three changes in government and clashes with the Taliban since breaking away from the former Soviet Union 12 years ago. The legendary Silk Road linking China and Europe brought commerce and prosperity in ancient times. Today, foreign trade barely exists, and 80 percent of the population falls below the poverty line. Economic development is blocked by primitive communication technology. Few computers are available, and, although the common language is Tajik, users need to know Russian or English to operate them. Kovacs saw an opportunity to help. "The idea of making such a significant impact on so many people inspired me," he says. Forming a non-profit corporation, he organized a team of international volunteers to translate computer programs and the Linux operating system into Tajik. With an $85,000 grant from InfoDev, part of the World Bank Organization, Kovacs is helping to set up computer centers for the public in two cities in Tajikistan, and a computer classroom in an orphanage school. When middle school students at Holy Cross Lutheran School in Fort Wayne heard about the poor living conditions at the orphanage, they began collecting needed items such as shoes, blankets and school supplies. The computer equipment and humanitarian supplies fill a container 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet deep. To cover shipping costs, the resourceful Kovacs turned to the Counterpart for Humanitarian Assistance Program funded by the U.S. State Department. "These people have so little, this help will mean a great deal to them," he says. "I'm glad I can help them become more self-sufficient with computer technology." Kovacs also plans to personally finance a Tajiki student's education at an American college. "Tajikistan doesn't have a lot of natural resources, but they do have intellectual assets," he says. "The young people are energetic and eager to learn." Another project Kovacs is working on involves bringing Internet capability to 15 public schools in Tajikistan. Along with email, the Internet will connect the Tajikis with each other and the world beyond. It would be a significant first step onto the Information Superhighway.			Relief effort set in motion by A/CD's Roger Kovacs is bringing blankets, clothing and other needed supplies to this orphanage school in Tajikistan. Also on the way are computers that will help them communicate with the outside world.