Projects/OLPC-Saigon

Phu My Orphanage Project

Location:

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the largest city in Vietnam. It used to be the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later an independent state of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975, but then it merged with North Vietnam. The metropolitan area of Saigon is populated by more than 9 million people.

The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers (1,094 mi) south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

Phu My Orphanage is located in Saigon. This orphanage looks after 600 children (400 in the orphanage and 200 in day care for street families). Many of the children at this orphanage are disabled, including those affected by Agent Orange.

Project Description:

Project Objectives

To introduce XO as a learning tool for children at the Phu My Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, and create a community of supporters of XO and Sugar users. 5 XOs are requested for project pilot as part of Contributors Program.

Timeline

Dec 14 - Jan 14 project preparation, testing XO and Sugar, creating curriculum for the teachers at the orphanage with guidance from Caroline Meeks

Jan 15 - Feb 7 - XO/Sugar introduction to the teachers of the orphanage and children; making contact with local techies, teachers, volunteers.

Feb 8 - Feb 19 winter break

Feb 22 - April 12 - Daily sessions with Sugar activities specific for Saigon area and appropriate for Pho My children; building OLPC community, making transition of the ownership of the project to the local OLPC team Collaboration with local community and project transition to the local OLPC team

Needs

Why is this project needed? OLPC initiative is ongoing in Hanoi region, but not in Saigon Locally? This project will start with one orphanage, and expand beyond that In the greater OLPC/Sugar community? Saigon is prospective area for OLPC as there are a lot of children in need of learning tools Outside the community? Why can't this project be done in emulation using non-XO machines? XO machines are an experience in itself, as they provide interactive base for the learners Why are you requesting the number of machines you are asking for? Will you consider (1) salvaged/rebuilt or (2) damaged XO Laptops? There are 30 children in the main class, 5XOs are good for piloting this project and bringing them to Vietnam

Sharing Deliverables

Project URL—where you'll report specific ongoing progress: Will publish it on wiki How will you convey tentative ideas & results back to the OLPC/Sugar community, prior to completion? Will keep blog How will the final fruits of your labor be distributed to children or community members worldwide? I will write a paper on favorite activities Will your work have any possible application or use outside our community? Teacher and children in the orphanage Have you investigated working with nearby XO Lending Libraries or Project Groups? not available

Quality/Mentoring

Would your Project benefit from Support, Documentation and/or Testing people? Yes Teachers' input into Usability? Yes How will you promote your work? Blog and wiki page Can we help you with an experienced mentor from the OLPC/Sugar community? (WEB-PUBLISHED) YES, especially someone from the current deployment (Nancie Severs), techies and educational professionals