Change the World
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!
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.
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.
Hardware
The hardware used on the XO is quite unique in the electronics world! Visit our hardware specification page for more details.
Battery and Power
The XO laptop is remarkably energy efficient, generally using only 5-10 percent of the average wattage of a standard laptop. For more information and specification visit battery and power.
You order does not come with alternate power sources. If you are interested in alternative sources of power, such as solar, please email us at help@laptop.org.
Repair Centers
Default Language
For orders less than 1000, english keyboards will be supplied. To change the default language on the XO visit the language wiki.
Keyboard
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.
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.