Boston College and University of Michigan, South Africa
Mission
MISSION STATEMENT:
We are team Ubuntu, consisting of three college students dedicated to empowering children through education. We believe that knowledge is a right, and that learning does not start nor stop in the classroom. Following the Ubuntu philosophy: "I am what I am because of who we all are," our team's mission is to work alongside the children to strengthen communities. We have chosen to work in Cape Town, where one member has both studied abroad and has had extensive volunteer experience. It is important to us that children in large, urban areas are not forgotten in this effort. Computers and Internet access are not necessarily accessible to children in Gugulethu.
AIMS AND GOALS:
•Successfully incorporate the Ubuntu and OLPC philosophies, which speak strongly to our group
•Incorporate the 100 XO laptops' launch as an extension of our NGO's Computer Skills Development Program
•Train the children how to use their XOs through exploration and experimentation
•Address xenophobia, by fostering a vibrant environment of research, artistic expression, exchange of views, and dynamic learning
•Develop relationships with other OLPCorps Africa teams in South Africa, and work towards greater saturation through a strong support network
•Further technology education in Cape Town by working with local children
•Help plant the seed of this international movement to promote and enhance child education
NGO
Ikamva Labantu
Ikamva Labantu has been successfully running for over 45 years. We find that Ikamva Labantu's approach to sustainable development, through community empowerment, is an ideal match for the mission of OLPC. Furthermore, it is an ideal NGO to supervise the distribution and maintenance of the 100 XO laptops, as it has the program organization capable of sustaining it far beyond our stay. Ikamva Labantu runs projects that serve over 18,000 children in the Cape Province, and offers counseling and family services, which will help foster family and community involvement in the initiative. For a better understanding of the organization, please watch this video.
Ikamva Labantu has written us a letter of support. You can view it in DOC or PDF format. We have also uploaded a scan of the original document.
Gugulective
Gugulective is art art collective based in Gugulethu township. The artists work together in their community with children to inspire creativity and social action. Their art work speaks for a need for change and their exhibitions are powerful and inspiring. Maxine worked with them while abroad and is looking forward to collaborating with them again this winter in South Africa. Their gallery in Gugulethu is easily accessible to us and to our students. We will work with them as the students explore art as an expression for change. We will also post the students' works on our website for the world to see. We expect to have multiple workshops on art and social action.
Team
| Name | Institution | Major | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noémie Hailu | Boston College | Communication, African Studies | Senior |
| Maxine Jean-Louis | Boston College | Sociology | Senior |
| Max Stoller | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | Social Computing Informatics | Freshman |
Noémie
Maxine
Max, dog not included.
Budget and Fundraising
Please see an outline of our expenses and fundraising goals here.
Location
Gugulethu is a township outside of Cape Town, South Africa. <googlemap version="0.9" lat="-33.975681" lon="18.570843" type="satellite" zoom="7" controls="large"> -33.983608, 18.568796, Guguletu, Nyanga -33.983608, 18.568796, Guguletu, Nyanga </googlemap>
Saturation
We will have the support from other teams in South Africa. We have been in communication with several groups about a support network for their members, as well as creating a blog where we can all post the students' work. The students can then share their information with children throughout South Africa and we will have a network refer to in the event of any questions, seek advice or want to collaborate.
Sharing the computers with family members and friends, the children will help spread the ideas that we will be focusing on during our workshops. Also, family members can benefit from the use of the laptops and their connectivity, with the guidance of the children. The students will also have the time to communicate with each other outside the classroom. They will be able to ask each other questions and collaborate with one another in preparation for the next session, with the XO computers.