International Development
Those fortunate with time to help others must do so, for it is their duty as human beings. Everyone as one second to lend a hand, my way of doing so is by refurbishing computers and shipping them to other countries with the help of the Public Service Center and other Offices at MIT. In the past year over ten computers have found new homes.
Computer Donation: Instituto Franciscano Rubén Darío
Objective:
To provide access to technology & educational resources as a means to create opportunities for youth in remote locations of third world countries.
Introduction:
MIT students are renowned around the world for being community leaders. It is my personal belief that one must also make a contribution to the communities that raised and nurture our creativity. At this day in age, when educational resources such as MIT Open Courseware are widely available around the world, one only needs a computer to have access to that information.
Description:
The goal of this project is to ship a total of ten complete computers to Nicaragua by IAP 2009. The project is broken down in three phases: 1) acquisition/delivery, 2) teaching, and 3) providing educational resources. The first phase, acquisition/delivery, is done primarily from MIT. I will be gathering computers, and refurbishing them. I'm currently in possession of five of the ten computers that I will be shipping. I will be obtaining the other computers in the next six week period. The computers will provide a confort level for students to work and access information.
Phase two of the project consists of a three week teaching program. I will be teaching the kids in town how to use the computers and set them up. I will also those interested how to fix the computers, if they break down. The teaching will be divided into lecture and lab format. During the lectures they will learn the basics of a computer, and lab will serve to give them hands on experience. Two of my cousins in Nicaragua will also be present to help with the teaching process.
The third phase of the project consists of maintaining an open line of communication to provide continuous access to resources. I will be gathering with the town to come up with viable ways to increase and maintain computer literacy I will also be leaving trained individuals to maintain the computers free of charge. They will also serve to deliver new educational resources.
Acknowledgements:
- Prof. Jim Elliot
- Dean Julie Norman
- Sally Susnowitz
- Daniel Chapman
- Robert Schuman
- Andy Neely
Loreto Girl's School in Mwanza, Tanzania
Goal
To promote computer literacy in Africa.
Details:
The computer project to the Loreto School in Mwanza, Tanzania was an effort by Folkers Rojas, a junior in Nuclear Engineering, and Phillip Laker-Ojok, a sophomore in Chemical Engineering, to help Loreto recover from the theft of all six of their computers in early 2006. Starting in the fall of 2006, Folkers and Phillip started to gather resources and support in the form of grants and computer donations for the project. On November 26th 2006 we delivered six computers and monitors to the Boston docks for shipment to Kampala, Uganda. The computers served as tools for educating tomorrow's future.
Key Individuals
- Folkers Rojas
- Phillip Laker-Ojok
Conclusion
The computers made it to Uganda and were shipped across Lake Victoria to their final destination in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Acknowledgements:This project could not have been accomplished without the assistance of the following individuals and groups
- Dean Larry Benedict
- Sister Pauline Boase
- Prof. Jim Elliot
- Louis Graham
- Amanda Gulbis
- Mr. Tomas Makena
- Dean Julie Norman
- Mr. Ken Stone
- Prof. Jack Wisdom
- Sally Susnowitz