OLPCorps JomoKenyattaUniversityofAgricultureandTechnology Kenya
Contents
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.
- Nelson Munyiri; 4th year undergraduate Civil Engineering student with involvement in Child Christian religious development and organization of youth 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 web based solutions.
- 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 involvement in accounting operations and mobilisation of youth development projects
The team has 3 components:
- Technical support
- Teaching and staff
- Communications and liaison
Partner NGO
The team will be working in conjunction with Computers For Schools Kenya (CFSK) a Non-Governmental Organization which has vast experience in deployment of refurbished computers to schools at the same time training the students on how to use them.
Team vision
The team is committed to assist in the global effort to alleviating ignorance, poverty and hunger in African countries by carrying out grassroots education of children, especially in the rural areas. The team believes that by positively impacting the 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 community/ 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 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 Kiswahili.
Understanding the objectives of the project
The project requires the mobilisation and distribution of the 100 XO laptops and 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:
Metholodology
- Mobilisation of the team: the team will assemble and travel to the target community with the 100 XO laptops.
- Meeting with the school administration: the team will meet with the school administration to formally commence the project by receiving the permission to setup and organize for the commencement of empowerment of the children.
- Setting up of facilities and equipment: the team will setup the 100 XO laptops in a previously prepared ‘computer room.’
- Detailed scheduling: the team will schedule the education programme for the children and include captivating activities to sustain their attention and enthusiasm.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Learning impact assessment: the team will assess the net success of the project in empowering the children.
Continuation of the project
For the ensured longevity of the OLPCorps project, the team will:
- Starting a Student organisation that will have a mission to carry out early childhood development for the empowerment of the next generation that will drive the change in their community/ country.
- Sourcing funds from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) through an application by way of Kalimoni Primary School.
