OLPCorps UCBerkeley Uganda

Vision

Our goal is to empower the children through exposure to a world of knowledge otherwise unreachable. Youth are naturally more inquisitive and eager to explore than adults, and this gives them an advantage in the use of new technology. In a “trickle up” theory, they will discover new ways of thinking and problem solving that they can then share with their older caretakers and community members. We intend to assign both group and individual projects that will activate their imagination and challenge them to solve problems that directly influence their lives. Once internet connectivity has been established, we will arrange access to a blog and ask that throughout the school year the children upload stories, pictures, and ideas they have developed through the use of their laptops. This will encourage them to explore the internet and continue creating new uses for their existing XO applications. We will give them the tools to upgrade and adjust the XO’s programming, so that as they outgrow applications, they can install more advanced software and allow the laptop grow with them.

Team Members

• Pedagogical Lead: Tiffany Hsieh - Political Science, Economics '10
• Logistical Lead: Marie Collins - Political Economy, Global Poverty and Practice (minor) '11
• Technical Lead: Billy Grissom - Computer Science '09

The Organization for Good Life of The Marganilized

OGLM is an non-governmental organization headquartered in Jinja, Uganda. Their organization objectives are to:

1. To improve the welfare and socio-economic development of orphaned children and their elderly grandmothers
2. To contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS among the marginalized and to work towards the improvement of sexual reproductive health & rights
3. To empower HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, grannies, women, and youth to access economic resources so as to reduce poverty.

They will be our primary resource in fostering community interest and support to create a sustainable program in Buwaiswa. OGLM runs the Buwaiswa Chilren’s Home, which houses HIV/AIDS orphans. They maintains close communication with the Buwaiswa Primary School where we will do our actually laptop deployment. We will work with two of OGLM’s local staff in every facet of the laptop deployment, so that when we leave they will have the full range of knowledge necessary to continue teaching the children, and assisting in the repairs and “end-of-life” removal of the laptops. Hellen Lunkuse, OGLM’s Children’s Computer Trainer and Instructor, will join us in the Kigali training workshop in June. We are putting particular emphasis on training OGLM staff because they have shown overwhelming support and interest in maintain a long-term commitment to the program. Because school is out of session during the June-August months, we will be holding workshops with OGLM in the primary school, but may not have the opportunity to work with the children’s academic-year teachers. Also, due to the possibility of teacher turnover, we feel that OGLM will provide a more stable base for program maintenance than primary school teacher training alone.