Change the World

The OLPC Change the World Program

Below are a list of frequently asked questions about the Change the World program. We hope they provide you with more information, encourage you to initiate your own Change the World program, and help you learn more about XO programs around the world. Thank you for your interest in bringing an XO program to a school community in your life and your continued support of the OLPC initiative!

Frequently Asked Questions

Change the World Program Overview

Who can participate in the Change the World program?

For the first time ever OLPC is offering individuals, companies and other organizations the chance to send laptops to the country or classroom of their choice. With a donation of 100 or more XO laptops, any group can give children in a specific place the chance to learn, share, dream and connect to each other and to the world.

Where can Change the World donations be provided?

Anywhere! From the country your family is from to the neighborhood school just down the road, you or your group can give hundreds of young students this amazing tool for learning. You can also choose to direct your donation to an OLPC partner country to help strengthen existing programs. Our current partners include Haiti, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Peru, Uruguay, Afghanistan, and the UN Palestinian Refugee Camps.

What is the cost of a Change the World donation?

The price range for the Change the World program, including shipping to an international airport, is:

• $219 per laptop to OLPC partner countries and the 50 Least Developed Countries
• $259 per laptop to the rest of the world

Each donation of 100 or more laptops includes spare parts, participation in workshops, and on-line technical support. Donations of 1,000 or more include the above, plus on-site assistance from OLPC staff.

Where can I learn more about Change the World programs around the world?

The Change the World community is growing around the world! To learn more about global Change the World stories please visit Change the world stories. To learn more about the XO programs in OLPC partner countries please visit our country information pages for more information.

XO Availability

What XO laptops are available?

English keyboard XOs are available for the Change the World programs. If you are donating laptops to an OLPC partner country we will provide the appropriate language keyboard for that specific country. If you are interested in donating 10,000 or more XOs to a location not in a partner country, OLPC is happy to discuss localized keyboard options with you. Please contact change@laptop.org for more information.

What XO chargers are available?

US and EU chargers are available for Change the World program donations. If you're interested in a Change the World program of 1,000 laptops or more and would like an alternative charger please email us at change@laptop.org and we'd be happy to discuss additional options and availability.

Placing a Change the World Donation

How do I place a Change the World donation?

If you are interested in donating 100, 1000, or more laptops, please send an email to change@laptop.org with your contact information. We will contact you as quickly as possible to learn more about your laptop project.

Delivery Timeframe & Shipping Terms

How long will it take to receive my laptops?

OLPC aims to ship Change the World donations within 4-6 weeks of receiving payment. Larger orders or orders with a new keyboard may take longer to ship.

Is the cost of shipping included in the price?

Yes. The Change the World donation price per laptop includes CIP (Cargo Insurance Paid) shipping terms and conditions to a major international airport. For a list of major international aiports see an airport codes list. If you are donating to an OLPC partner country, your donations will be included in our next shipment bound for this location.

What are the shipping terms and conditions?

Change the World shipping terms include CIP (Cargo Insurance Paid) to any major international airport. OLPC will arrange the shipment of your donation to any major international airport in the world. The consignee will be contacted when the shipment has arrived at the airport and will be responsible for customs duties or fees and local delivery to the final destination. OLPC will provide shipment details to you and/or the consignee. Please note that Change the World donations are not shipped with door-to-door delivery. Please contact change@laptop.org for additional questions on Change the World shipping.

What about customs duties and fees at the laptop’s final destination?

Local customs, duties and fees are not included in the Change the World price. Please research the customs regulations of your designated country to learn more about possible fees. OLPC is unable to provide local customs clearance assistance, but will ship your donation with an OLPC letter stating the shipment is a donation and not for resale. We highly recommend contacting the local customs office to learn more about the customs process in your designated location.

Tech Support

Connectivity

To connect your individual XOs to the internet, visit Wifi Connectivity.

In order to create a secure and constant network for your XO deployment, you may want to consider a School Server and multiple Access Points for you laptops to connect to. For information on how to set up such a system, visit School Server.

The XOs can communicate with each other without an internet connection by using the Mesh network.

Activities on the XO

There are many activities that can be downloaded to the XO unit. We have preloaded activities on the base installation. For more detail on the activities both preinstalled and potential downloads, visit the Activities page.

Software

The XO laptop features the Linux operating system and includes software specifically designed for children and the XO, mainly open sourced software. For more information on the types of programs used visit software components or OLPC Software.

Microsoft Windows is not currently available for the XO.

Upgrading

There are a few different builds that the XO may be running when you receive your shipment. In order to unify the software you may want to consider upgrading to the latest stable build 8.2.0-767.

Why is the XO's Hardware unique?

The XO was designed with kids and the environments of developing countries in mind. It's durable, rugged, and can hold up in extreme weather conditions. The XO hardware is unique from its screen that can be viewed in direct sunlight, to the spare screws that are built into the XO, and the green rubber border or "bumpers" that help minimize damages from wear and tear. To learn more about the XO's hardware visit our hardware specification page for more details.

What about the batteries and power?

The XO laptop is remarkably energy efficient, generally using only 5-10 % of the average energy consumed by a standard laptop. OLPC designed the XO laptops with the consideration that in many parts of the world power resources are scarce and inconsistent. We've also designed the XO to be powered by solar energy with the use of low cost and green friendly solar panels. While Change the World donations are not shipped with solar panels we're happy to provide you with more information on this alternative energy source to help you make an informed decision on whether solar power is an ideal option for your XO program. For more information and specification on the XO batter and power options please visit battery and power.

Can we change the language of our XOs?

Yes! The XO was designed as a global laptop and OLPC values the use of local languages in classrooms around the world. The XO has a unique feature of allowing the individual user to change the XO laptops default language with a few easy steps. This feature is made possible by the free and open source community which provides translations for many languages. OLPC relies on a global community to help maintain and provide new translations for languages from around the world. To learn more about the XO languages and changing language settings please language for more information.

Is it possible to receive XO laptops with keyboard which are not English?

For Change the World donations of 1,000 or more we are happy to discuss your options for localized keyboards. OLPC will provide you with detailed information on this option to help you make an informed decision on your needs of a customs keyboard. There are a number of things to consider for non-English keyboards such as technical support, lead times and translations which OLPC is able to provide more information on. If you are interested in a non-English Change the World donation please change@laptop.org. For all keyboard questions visit our wiki. Visit keyboard shortcuts to understand shortcuts to the larger system and for activity control keys.

I haven’t found the answer to my question yet!

You can send your questions to change@laptop.org, or post public ones here.

Online Resources

Getting Started

You can use our manual or our Getting Started Guide to learn about the basic function and features of the XO units.

Manuals

We have many manuals to help you navigate the XO unit, learn how to use the Sugar interface, and start developing or localizing your own activities and collections.

Where can I learn about other OLPC programs and share my Change the World story?

Please feel free to share your story if you have started a program or have donated to a school or organization. Let's continue to expand the Change the World community together.

General & Miscellaneous

Why is the cost for Give One and Change the World different?

The $199 laptop donated through Give One is subsidized, as we can often add it to existing shipments. The Change the World programs can be directed anywhere, and the price includes spare parts and delivery to a major airport.

Can I donate less than 100 laptops?

Yes! OLPC’s Give One Get One program allows you to receive an XO for a child in your life and donate an XO to an OLPC program in the developing world. To purchase fewer than 100 laptops, see the Give One Get One program.

What if I’m interested in fundraising for a Change the World program?

We encourage you to fundraise for a Change the World program and connect with a network of supporters. Identifying and building relationships with others that are interested in supporting a Change the World program is a great way to create a sustainable program. OLPC is a small non-profit organization with limited resources, we regret that at this time we are unable to provide one to one support for fundraising but encourage you connect with others that are interested in supporting your Change the World initiative.