OLPCorps JomoKenyattaUniversityofAgricultureandTechnology Kenya

Team Composition

The team from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is composed of the following members, each of whom makes a special contribution to the success of the project:

• Joseph Makeni; 4th year undergraduate Civil Engineering student with involvement in web application development and 2 years teaching experience with children aged 7 to 10 at a local primary school and computer lab technician [1].
• Nelson Munyiri; 4th year undergraduate Civil Engineering student with involvement in Child Christian religious development and organization of youth based development activities.
• Letian Kashorda; 4th year undergraduate Computer Science student with extensive knowledge of open source software development and organization and supervision of youth based development programmes.
• Sammy Njoroge; 4th year undergraduate Computer Science student with extensive experience in open source software development and localization, web based solutions and Systems setup and management.
• Alice Methu; 4th year undergraduate Civil Engineering student with extensive involvement in child activity planning and supervision.
• Michael Krhoda; 4th year undergraduate Civil Engineering student with qualifications in accounting operations and mobilisation of youth development projects

The team is setup in the following criteria:

• Technical support
• Child and staff training
• Communications and liaison

Partner NGO

The team will be working in conjunction with Computers For Schools Kenya [2] a Non-Governmental Organization which has vast experience in deployment of refurbished computers to schools at the same time the setting up of frameworks to ensure the recepient schools can run the projects on their own successfully

Team vision

The team is committed to assist in the global effort of alleviating ignorance, poverty and hunger in African countries by carrying out grassroot education of children, especially in the rural areas. The team believes that positively impacting a generation of children while they are still at a tender age (6 to 12 years), will enable them to think of new, creative strategies to develop themselves and their communities / country. By allocating the resources required to each individual child while their minds are open to adventure, we offer the child an invaluable tool to undertake personal growth through the process of exploration and discovery. These discoveries will not only serve them well in their personal lives, but in the future leadership of their community/ country.

Duration of project

The team will be involved in the development and carrying out of the pilot project from June to August 2009. It will also maintain links with the school and partner-NGO long after the completion of the initial stage of the project.

Target Community

The target school for the OLPCorps project is Kalimoni Primary school in Juja constituency, Kenya. The school was started by missionaries in 1935. It has 14teachers, 524 children of whom 313 are in lower primary. The students will be in school during the entire duration of the project from June to August. Communication with the community will be done in English and Swahili.

Understanding the objectives of the project

The project will involve the mobilization and distribution of the 100 XO laptops to empower an entire generation of children in African countries, especially between the ages of 6 and 12, to be the agents of change through innovation and free-flow of ideas between themselves and their counterparts around the world through free and open source software. In meeting the objectives of the project the team will follow the methodology outlined below:

Methodology

1. Mobilization of the team: the team will assemble and travel to the target community with the 100 XO laptops.
2. Meeting with the school administration: the team will meet with the school administration to formally commence the project.
3. Setting up of facilities and equipment: the team will setup the 100 XO laptops in a previously prepared ‘computer room.’
4. Detailed scheduling: the team will schedule the "introductory training" programme for the children and teachers. This is to include captivating activities to sustain their attention and enthusiasm.
5. Safety procedures and controls and training of supplementary personnel: the team will have the first session with the project coordinators on site to educate them on the safety procedures for the proper care of the laptops during, and after the completion of the project.
6. Coordination of the project and quality assurance: the team will run the programme of activities with the children at the target community by actively participating in group activities and learning for the 9 week duration over which the project will run.
7. Progress monitoring and reporting: the team will meet at the end of every week to review the weeks activities and their impact on the lives of the
8. Learning impact assessment: the team will assess and report on the success of the project in its totality

Project Proposals

Localization

As a team we see an opportunity to help localize the software the XOs run on. Our first priority would be to translate the sugar UI into Swahili a language widely used through out Eastern, Central and Southern parts of Africa and also the national language for Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the DRC. All members of the team are fluent in swahili and two members have already participated in the localization of an open source software by translating it to Swahili [3]

XO school Server

We intend to setup a local XO server and offer support and maintenance for the duration of the project and even after that. In addition to the applications that come inbuilt we intend to add custom applications such as wikipedia for schools, [4] moodle and local content. We desire to see the children develop the content themselves ,through video blogging, audio podcasts etc.

Continuation of the project

For the ensured longevity of the OLPCorps project, the team will:

• Starting a Student organization at our university that will have a mission to carry out early childhood development for the empowerment of the next generation.
• Sourcing funds from the Constituency Development Fund ([5]) through an application by way of Kalimoni Primary School.