via IYA2009.
The Galileoscope is a cheap to buy kit telescope with good optics. It has been created as part of the effort to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, 2009 and the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of the telescope.
People who buy the Galileoscope have the option of getting a second one at factory price to donate to the third world, resulting in 3,200 telescopes heading there so far.
In Japan, a second telescope (or rather telescopes as there are two kit telescopes) created with similar intentions under the auspices of the You Are Galileo project serves the underprivileged especially in Asia.
Celestron have also created the First Scope, which unlike the other two projects is a reflecting telescope at low cost.
Together the three projects help to spread the ability to buy astronomical equipment to almost any amateur star gazer out there. So if you want to get into astronomy with a half decent telescope at a more than decent cost, take a look at those three to begin with.
Where the Sun hits the sky 