OLPCorps UniversityofGhana Ghana

INTRODUCTION

We are a team of Ghanaian graduates from University of Ghana who are currently undertaking our national service at the Ghana-Indian Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE).

Generally, the need for ICT in our Developmental efforts as a country cannot be over stated. Though there are some challenges, we still believe that this project will help a great deal in our quest to participate fully in the current knowledge economy we find ourselves in globally. It is of not coincident that the government of Ghana see the use of OLPC as one of the strategies to help introduce pupils in the lower level of our educational system to ICT.

This unique initiative of introducing children using OLPC is gradually catching up in Ghana. Considering that the use of ICT in rural Ghana is virtually non existent for the young ones who will take up leadership role tomorrow, there is a need to ensure that they also be given the chance to have an idea and opportunity to acquire the necessary ICT skill they may need in their future endeavor. It is for this reason that its imperative to equip these young ones with ICT skills for the smooth development of their communities, Ghana and Africa as a whole.

This Project provides us with a unique opportunity to help contribute to the development of our country. With very good knowledge of Free and Open Source Software and good knowledge of the XOs OLPC, we wish to formally be part of this project – OLPCorps.

In our quest to implement the project in Ghana, we have decided that the deployment of the XOs take place in the Eastern Region Ghana.

TEAM MEMBERS

   * Nathan Nyarko Sackey
   * Theophilus Arthur-Hutchison

Check Profile for details

TIMING AND SCHEDULING

The project timing between June 2009 and August 2009 would be school going period in Ghana For a smooth roll out, discussions are far advanced to integrate the project into the academic curriculum whereby a two hour period a day set aside within the week for OLPC training.

LOCAL PATNER(S):

Though the AITI-KACE is the main local partner, other partners includes the OLPC foundation in Ghana, AIESEC Ghana. Involvement the of ICT and other teachers from the schools. This is to ensure that transfer of skills and knowledge is retained.

DEPLOYMENT

Here, we are looking two schools ADUKROM METHODIST PRIMARY/KG and AKROPONG PRESBY PRIMARY/KG within AKWAPIM NORTH District of Ghana. Our target group include grades 1-6 of each school. In conformity to the OLPCorps principles “The ownership of the XO is a basic right of the child and is coupled with new duties and

responsibilities, such as protecting, caring for, and sharing this valuable equipment”, we propose to leave the XOs in the school premise which will be available to the children of the community since it is their right. This is done in order to have a responsible body (the schools) to take care of the XOs as well as giving the children an equal opportunity to share and use the XOs.

NB: XOs are not the school's property.

We have also planned specific application (education games like moon, gbrainy, tuxmath, marble) training which together with our local partner have prepared to fit well into their curriculum and finally the use of internet and applications and creating awareness of the vast and limitless opportunities in the ICT world.

There will be a small project where the students will act as trainers and teach some people how to use the XO laptops. For details read the “Deployment Plan”.

BUDGET

For details read the “budget”

SUSTAINABILITY

Funds would be raised together with our local partners and will be used for maintenance of the XOs and other hardware problems that may develop after the deployment.

Fortunately, Mr. Kwesi Smith – an expert in the XO from the AITI-KACE, has agreed to support the sustainability of this project. We also plan to develop a web site to create awareness and to reach a wider target in the fund raising process. Also as a check mechanism, request for feedback from teachers of both schools since they will help the children with minor problems. The feedback will also help us determine if the local partners are performing satisfactorily.

COMMUNICATION

The mode of instruction is predominately English and Akan, and since our team is proficient in both languages, there would be no problem in that direction.