OLPC Vanuatu
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Deployments in Vanuatu commenced in July 2008 with the delivery of 25 XO laptops to Wan Smolbag Theatre Group in Port Vila. They are currently awaiting localisation into Bislama before being used in literacy classes at the theatre.
Contacts:
- Ian Thomson, RICS Coordinator, Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC) SPC
- Wan Smolbag Theatre group [1]
A localisation project is being opened on the OLPC Pootle server for Vanuatu Bislama language.
The trials are being implemented in collaboration with the Wan Smolbag community theatre group. The intention is to link the OLPC trials with the educational drama activities and produce local content for the XO.
Projects
- Ministry of Education
The Ministry is organising two pilots for Vanuatu. The Education System is Tri-lingual with vernacular education in Bislama and French and English courses provided for older children One Pilot will be in English with the other in French. The French Pilot will link to the Haiti OLPC project which has developed resources to match the French Education System.
More information will be posted here as the projects develop
- Won Smolbag
Won Smolbag is a well established NGO providing education and awareness raising services in Vanuatu and around the Pacific Islands. Its principle purpose is to inform Islanders of important issues through performing plays and conducting workshops after the play. It addresses issues such and reproductive health, good governance, basic literacy etc. It produces DVDs of its performances. Their catch line is Working with communities through drama to provide a greater understanding of development issues in the South Pacific
Community theater brings plays to the people, plays about environmental, health, social and human rights. The Wan Smolbag Theater, located in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu writes and produces a large number of plays, drama sketches, and participatory drama workshops for government agencies, NGOs and development programs.
In Port Vila, WSB has a large centre including studios and a stage and where it produces the material (see photo). This centre also has a Telecenter for local youth.
At this centre, WSB holds a drop in service for young children from the neighbouring slum area. At any one time, there are up to 20 children, but this varies considerably day to day, depending if the children can, or are allowed to, attend. These children do not attend school, basically as their parents cannot afford the school fees. They are aged from 5-16 years old and most have never attended school. The literacy program is managed by a Kiwi volunteer, working for Volunteer Services Abroad, a New Zealand NGO. There is 3 local support staff. It should be noted that none of these staff are trained teachers and work with minimal resources, e.g. donated books from New Zealand. The training is in English as they have no Bislama resources (the local universal Pidgin language). The program is funded by Australia and New Zealand Aid.
The children are split into two groups, one of 15 five to ten year olds and the other with 10 ten to sixteen year olds.
The program Won Smolbag has been offered 20 XOs and basic training for 5 staff. This was conducted in late July (see photo)
It should be noted that this is the first NGO program with OLPC in the Pacific and it will be very important for understanding how to reach the many children that do not attend school
After the training, the staff investigated how to incorporate the laptops into their training program.
It was agreed that due to the drop in nature of the program and the irregular attendance of children, the child ownership requirement would be delayed to see the impact of the laptops. The laptops will be kept in the centre initially.
Connection to the Internet will not be initially provided due to lack of funding. This will be reviewed when the impact of the laptops is evaluated
An assessment plan is being developed that will include regular reporting.
