OLPCorps Cornell Mauritania

Welcome to the Cornell OLPC site

Who we are:

• Eli Luxenberg - Information Science '10
• James Elkins - Information Science '11
• Alan Garcia - Information Science '09
• Nora Callinan - Biological Sciences '09
• Seth Luxenberg - Policy Analysis and Management '08
• Jawwad Asghar - Mechanical Engineering '11
• Billy Podlaski - Biological Sciences '11

Mission Statement

• We are a group of socially conscious, technically inclined students at Cornell University who wish to improve education in Africa. We believe that OLPC and its constructionist, hands-on learning method is the best way to do this.

• We are going to use technology for the rest of our lives in whatever profession we choose. Acknowledging this, we see it as necessary to share a part of what we have been given. We know that we can succeed when given the proper tools and we know that all kids can succeed if given the right tools. We need to go out and share the technology that has enabled us to learn.

What we want to do

• Apply for the OLPCorps Africa grant program to deploy 100 laptops to kids in Mauritania

====When we want to do itv

• Summer 2009 - June 20th-August 20th

Where

• Tdjikja, Mauritania

Proposal

Mauritania is a breathtaking country - full of contrasts, compromises, and contradictions. In the north, it is host to a majority of traditionally nomadic Arabic-speaking peoples (the Moors). In the south, it is home to Wolof and Pulaar speaking minorities. It is incredibly culturally and linguistically diverse for a country of only about 3.5 million people. Unfortunately, it is one of the poorest countries on the planet. After winning independence from France in 1960, it has struggled to retain industry and improve education. According to the CIA factbook, it has an illiteracy rate of just under 50%, and only 30,000 internet users. By giving 100 laptops to students, we can significantly impact the number of people that have come into contact with computers.

Tidjikja, a city of 6000 and the capital of the Tagant region, is a vibrant, yet rural town. Its inhabitants are aware of the outside world, but their only link to it is a 12 hour drive to the capital city, Nouakchott. Tidjikjaians are enthusiastic about learning and interested in other cultures. Seth Luxenberg, who is currently stationed there while working for the Peace Corps, reports that he has helped to form a local English club, and is corresponding with a vocational school in the area to teach computer skills. In addition, he teaches English and environmental skills at the local elementary schools école primaire 1 and école primaire 5. We will work with these schools to distribute the laptops to the students there.

With these laptops, students will be able to break free of the traditional "eyes front" method of learning and can learn at their own pace. In addition, their entire extended family will have the benefit of being able to interact with a computer. Our pedagogical leads are creating sample lesson plans to prepare the teachers to integrate the laptops with the curriculum, which is split between Arabic and French. We plan to set up a correspondence with a local school in Ithaca so the students can share their experiences with American students of the same age.

Logistically, the students will be on break during the summer, though the teachers will be available. With support from the local community, we hope to set up extracurricular laptop training sessions so that when the children come back to school, they will be well versed in laptop usage. Seth Luxenberg will be in the area for another year, giving him ample time to train and hand off ownership of the project to the administrators of the school or a local community group. We will transport the laptops personally from Dakar, Senegal to Tidjikja. Since Tidjikja is a rural town, security will not be a problem - everyone knows each others business and crime is very low. Seth and other Peace Corps Volunteers in town speak Hassaniya, so communication will not be a problem

Working with Children

• The school name is école primaire 1 in the Tagant Region. We do not have an exact number of children yet, we are working to find the precise number.
• We are working to find out the exact school schedule and how to overcome cultural barriers. If children are on break, how can we make this project feasible? Also, if they are not on break, what is the schedule that they have during the day? Where will we fit this project into their schedules.
• Have pen pals with Montessori school in ithaca & kids in Mauritania. (project details to come)
• Also, check this out: Ambassadors' Girls' Scholarship Program Seems like they compiled an ideabook, we should contact them. There is a Peace Corps Volunteer in town who is working with girls.
• What about literacy? How literate are the kids there? Will this be a problem?

Local Partner

• Seth Luxenberg is a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) stationed in Tdjikja. He is our primary contact He has organized an English club and computer club and seems very enthusiastic. This could be the basis of the Mauritanian OLPC.

Impact On Grade School Children

• They get the laptops, exposure to more knowledge, laptops will help them.. constructionist learning methodology, laptops are just aids to the learning process... We will add to this section.

Financial Support after we leave

• Planned Fundraising @ Cornell:
  • Rockland County Alumni Association
  • Information Science Student Association
  • Association of Computer Science Undergraduates
  • Assocation for Capacity Building, Technology & Outreach for Renewal in Sub-Saharan Africa (Cornell)
  • Muslim Educational & Cultural Association
  • Education Society
  • Egyptian Students Association
  • Cornell Students for Free Culture
  • Inspiring Youth Abroad
  • International Alternative Breaks
  • Society of Arab World Affiliates
  • Open Source Meetup
  • Islamic Alliance for Justice

Consultation

Community Support

• Seth Luxenberg will be in the area ~1 year after we leave. He has formed an English club that is very active & enthusiastic about modernization. He has had varied experiences and has taught computers, English and science since traveling to Mauritania. We envision that we will teach the people in this club how to use the computers as well, & that they will be early adopters. They will form the long term organization in conjunction with the teachers @ the local school.
• How many teachers are there?

• Working with local groups at Cornell including (free culture, computer reuse)

Communication

• Students speak hassaniya, an arabic dialect.
• Seth knows how to speak it, we are trying to find another translator (probably through an Arabic organization above).

Logistics

Transportation

• Seth indicates that we may need to fly into Nouakchott in order to avoid a difficult border crossing.
• Check this website out It talks about how to travel around Mauritania.
• This website gives info on how much money it is to get from Nouakchott to Rosso (near Senegal)
• Check this also this out. It's Mauritania Airways, which flies to/from Paris (really expensive).
• Alternatively, Air France flies in/out of Nouakchott. This may be most reliable.. as Mauritania Airways sounds sketch, and Air France is pretty legit. (we'd fly from US to france, then France to Nouakchott)
• There is a taxi from Nouakchott to Tidjikja. The price is about 5000 UM = ~$20 per person. see here for source.
• You used to be able to fly from Nouakchott to Tidjikja. It is unclear whether we can still do that.
• The people going to Rwanda is undetermined.
• We will then fly back to Dakar, & get back to Tidjikja after the conference.
• Other people are getting to Tidjikja through Dakar, Senegal (Maybe?).
• Need to figure out how to get to Tidjikja from Dakar.
• From Dakar to Nouakchott by public transport usually takes from 11 to 13 hours depending on the wait at the border. travel information
• This section is confusing-sounding. The point is that we have options for how to get to Tidjikja. Regardless of how much it costs, it will probably take up most of the budget to travel out to Tidjikja.

Shipping

• We are shipping the laptops to Dakar (tentatively). Ideally, we would then take them on the plane to Nouakchott with us, and then drive them to Tdjikja.
• Alternatively, we could just have them shipped to Nouakchott.
• Customs should not be a problem, but we should investigate this.

Laptop Distribution

• Since it is likely that school will not be in session the second that we get there, we will probably be able to set the server/infrastructure up before the school year starts. Though we will try to give the kids as much exposure to the laptops before we leave.

Cornell OLPC Budget

References - here and here

Airfare

5 People

• NY->Senegal (2 people, round trip) - $3,100
• Miami->Senegal (1 person, round trip) - $1,600
• NY->Kigali->Senegal (2 people, one way) - $5,200
• Senegal->NY (2 people, one way) - $2,000
• Total - $11,900

3 People

• NY->Kigali->Senegal (2 people, one way) - $5,200
• Senegal->NY (2 people, one way) - $2,000
• NY->Senegal (1 person, round trip) - $1,500
• Total - $8,700

Ground Transportation

5 People

• Dakar->St. Louis->Rosso (4200 CFA + luggage = ~5000CFA per person) * 5 people = $50 * 2 (Round trip) = $100
• Rosso (Mauritanian side)->Nouakchott->Tidjikja = 6200 Ouguiyas * 5 people = $125 * 2 (Round trip) = $250
• Factor in $150 for misc. hassles over the fact that we'll need to reserve extra spots in the cars for the laptops
• Total - $500

3 People

• Dakar->St. Louis->Rosso (4200 CFA + luggage = ~5000CFA per person) * 3 people = $30 * 2 (Round trip) = $60
• Rosso (Mauritanian side)->Nouakchott->Tidjikja = 6200 Ouguiyas * 3 people = $75 * 2 (Round trip) = $150
• Factor in $150 for misc. hassles over the fact that we'll need to reserve extra spots in the cars for the laptops
• Total - $360

Living Expenses

• Food - $500
• Lodging - Free (Seth has his own house)

Vaccines

5 People

• Yellow Fever - $150 w/o insurance * 5 = $750

3 People

• Yellow Fever - $150 w/o insurance * 3 = $450

Total - $750/$450 We expect that this will be handled by each team member on an individual basis, depending on their insurance situation. It will probably be lower than the number currently quoted.

Technology

• Power - $100 to $200
• Internet - $1000 + donated equipment

Total

5 People

• 11,900+500+500+750+2000= $14,750
• 8,700+360+500+450+2000 = 11,110

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MAURITANIA HONOR FRATERNITY JUSTICE NATIONAL EDUCATION MINISTRY REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE TAGANT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Regional Director of the National Education in the Tagant is prepared to receive the Laptops for the benefit of the Elementary school students from the organisation of ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD.

Tidjikja 17/ 3/ 2009 MOHAMED SAMBA SEDINTE

NATIONAL FEDERATION                                                                    PARTNERSHIP- SACRIFICE- CONSTRUCTION

OF THE STUDENTS’ PARENTS ASSOCIATION IN RIM REGIONAL UNION OFN THE APS OF THE TAGANT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The President of the Regional Union of APS of the Tagant is prepared to receive the Laptops for the benefit of the Elementary school students from the organisation of ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD.

Tidjikja 18/ 3/ 2009 MOHAMED ABDELLAHI O/ NENE

Translated by Marouf Ould Touda