OLPCorps MIT Mauritania Kaedi

Our Vision

We are a team of three undergraduates from MIT who are enthusiastic about the promise OLPCorps holds for the youth of Mauritania. Through a partnership with the Peace Corps and the Ministry of Education, our team aims to introduce a new style of learning to Kaédi, Mauritania. Previously, Mauritian education has depended heavily on memorization of facts and figures with little to no application element. Supplied with XO's, these students will be able to learn through experience and develop skills to launch their future development.

Team Profile

• Lily Xu (Community Relations Leader) is pursuing a degree at MIT in Environmental Engineering. She is an avid tree-hugger and a promoter for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. At MIT she is a Tour Guide, a Medical Link, a member of the Undergraduate Association's Committee on Sustainability, the coordinator of MIT's recycling competitions, and engaged in bioengineering research. Lily loves working with children and would be absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to go and interact with the children in Kaedi, Mauritania!
• Sumi Sinha (Education Leader) is majoring in Biology at MIT while pursuing passions outside academics. On campus, she participates in the Society of Women Engineers, MedLinks (providing medical services for students), Global Poverty Initiative and Greek Life. She is also a mentor at the Edgerton Center where elementary school kids learn science through experimentation. What excites her most about OLPC Mauritania-Kaedi is the chance to work alongside the Peace Corps and the talented girls of the local Girls Mentoring Centers (and also the chance to wear native clothing!).
• Jack Jester-Weinstein (Technical Leader) is an MIT student majoring in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering. A tinkerer by nature, he is involved in the MIT Electronics Research Society, programs semi-professionally, and spends free time building projects with friends. When not building, he plays in the Wind Ensemble and performs as an Emerson scholar. He also teaches with the MIT Educational Studies Program and volunteers on occasion for the Undergraduate Association's Sustainability Committee projects. Jack enjoys few things more than teaching and technology and would be elated to get the chance to teach tech in Kaedi.

Kaédi, Mauritania

Kaédi is a large departmental capital along the Senegal River, approximately 350 km from the Atlantic coast. The majority of the population is Haal Pulaar. The city has approximately 20 thousand inhabitants. There are 17 schools in the region, including 14 primary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. The country itself is known as the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the majority of the population lives concentrated in the capital city in the north. Half of the population still relies on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood. Two-thirds of the country is Saharan Desert.

Thanks to the hospitality of the Peace Corps volunteers, our team will be staying with education volunteers Bryan and Kristey.

Internet Accessibility

Although Kaédi contains a few computers in cyber cafes, internet access is not readily available in the learning community. However, prior to our arrival in Kaédi, our team will have arranged for DSL installation in the school. Our technical support volunteer, Will, estimates the installation begin one month before we initiate the program. We have included cost estimates for modems and monthly airtime fees for the time we will be in Kaédi. The school can connect to a network for about a $150 for installation of a modem and $60 per month charge. We plan on sustaining internet access for one year after our deployment.

Partnership

Our team will be partnering with the Peace Corps' Girls Mentoring Centers and the Ministry of Education in Kaedi, Mauritania:

Peace Corps: There are a number of Peace Corps volunteers in Kaedi, including ones who work directly with the girls in the mentoring center, some that focus on environmental education and information and communications technology. Our point contact in Kaedi is Matt, the information and communications technology volunteer. This laptop project will provide an immeasurable opportunity for the children in Kaedi to become leaders in their community. Traditionally, girls education in Mauritania is limited to domestic tasks. GMC’s offer a chance for academically minded females to further their education in a stable and encouraging environment. By providing students of this age an opportunity to immerse in technology, the program would offer girls a unique skill set that would make them valuable members of their communities and help reduce gender inequalities. Furthermore, the XO’s provide incentive to pursue higher education for girls who may otherwise fall through the cracks of the Mauritanian education system.

Ministry of Education: We are also working with Bryan, Ministry of Education (?), is also an English education volunteer. Bryan teaches English at the high school level and has close ties with the school directors and teachers in the community.

Sustainability

In order to provide sustained support after deployment, our team is in the process of receiving recognition from MIT as an official student organization. This status will provide seed money through which we can further fundraise to maintain internet connectivity of the laptops. Furthermore, because our team will exist as an organization long after the initial deployment, we will be able to provide logistical support in addition to financial support for our collaborators in Kaedi. Our local partner, the Peace Corps, have been involved in Kaedi for over 42 years and do not foresee any kind of departure anytime soon. Their dedicated presence in the Kaedi Girl's Mentoring Center combined with our continual support will ensure that the program is sustained for several years to come.