OLPCorps Jamii OLPC Tanzania
Jamii OLPC
“Jamii” means "community" in Swahili, and is the foundational principle of Jamii OLPC's OLPCorps Africa proposal:
Real, sustainable development comes from the people who make cities, towns and villages communities.
A partnership between Matemwe School, and the Matemwe School Computer Centre NGO (Certificate #701) of Zanzibar, Tanzania and numerous international team members, Jamii OLPC is a small but experienced multi-national, multi-university team applying to the One Laptop per Child 2009 OLPCorps Africa program.
Jamii OLPC hopes to be accepted into the OLPCorps Africa program and provided with 100 XO laptops to begin an XO Library at Matemwe.
Children are the future; if equipped with education, tools and opportunities, this generation can take up the battle to improve the lives of their families, community and country--and win.
This generation can make a difference.
Visit our website
You can also email us at JamiiOLPC@gmail.com.
News!
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| 03/24/09 MSCC AGM Highlights On Monday March 23rd, the Matemwe School Computer Centre held its first Annual General Meeting as an official Zanzibar NGO. At the top of the meeting’s agenda was Jamii OLPC, and the potential partnership with OLPCorps. Here are highlights from the meeting minutes. [read more] Read the latest Jamii OLPC news |
OLPCorps 750 Word Proposal
Jamii OLPC is an experienced multi-national, multi-university team partnered with Matemwe School and the associated Matemwe School Computer Centre (MSCC) NGO, in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The Jamii OLPC team is made up of four units:
- the International Unit
- the Matemwe Unit
- the Pedagogical Advisory Unit
- the Information Communication Technologies for International Development (ICT4D) Advisory Unit
The Jamii OLPC team provides a strong foundation for a sustainable, successful project. Our three International Unit fieldwork members have been selected for their strong socio-cultural, technical and pedagogical backgrounds, which will facilitate close collaboration and two-way capacity building with the Matemwe Unit during the deployment.
The cornerstone of the project is Matemwe School, a Zanzibar government primary and high school with 900+ students, approximately 500 between the 7 and 12 yrs.
Since January 2006, Matemwe School officials, teachers, community leaders and international supporters have been focusing on “bridging the digital divide” through Project Pagna Magae. Over the past three years, Project Pagna Magae has made significant progress, including the development of the Matemwe School Computer Centre. There are now 10 computers in the MSCC and all teachers have participated in a computer training program; however, only 15 highschool students are able to participate in computer classes and, because of high utility costs, the computers must primarily be used to run an Internet Cafe for tourists.
Jamii OLPC, Matemwe School and the MSCC are applying to OLPCorps to begin an XO Library at the Matemwe School Computer Centre. The idea of an XO Library was introduced by the MSCC, and subsequently approved by Paul Commons of OLPCorps as an acceptable deployment strategy.
The XO Library is the most feasible option for optimizing student saturation with limited hardware, as it will provide all 500+ primary school students with access to the 100 XOs. The MSCC will expand its existing internet access and supply charging stations for the laptops, as well as organize the daily operations of the XO Library.
The XO Library will primarily serve the youngest generation at Matemwe School. Standards 1-6 (7-12 yrs) will rotate in-class computer use throughout the week. The XO laptops will be available for these children to sign-out and take home each day, providing equal opportunity for each child to take a laptop home at least once a week.
Prior to deployment, the Pedagogical Advisory Unit and Matemwe Pedagogical Leads will develop an Educator’s Package to be used and adapted during and after the deployment. Initial emphasis will be on developing 1) flexible in-class activities to complement core subjects least impacted by language/cultural challenges (ie. math and science) 2) extracurricular introductory projects (ie. the Ninakaa Hapa project).
On weekends, the MSCC will offer peer-facilitated computer-based training programs and educational activities for children, teachers and community members. Emphasis will be placed on facilitating the development of youth-driven social projects, helping children become agents of change in their community.
Swahili is the main language used in Matemwe School. There are eight English teachers and students start studying English in Standard 2 (8 yrs). Project Coordinator Sam Burton also speaks conversational Swahili. She and Pedagogical Advisory Unit member Jackie Strecker will provide the other International Unit fieldwork members with Swahili language basics, prior to deployment. Zanzibar’s school year runs through the summer, until Ramadan begins on August 22, 2009; the deployment will be scheduled accordingly.
Jamii OLPC is requesting the $10,000 stipend from OLPCorps, which will cover ~60% of expenses. A detailed preliminary budget is available here. The MSCC and International Unit will raise funds and pursue sources of sustainable funding to cover the remaining costs. Look here for detailed information on Jamii OLPC’s fundraising projects.
The most significant challenge to sustainability will be the increase in electricity costs. MSCC has decided that “a self sufficient, no monthly expense system would be the best way to sustain our XO Library”; therefore, after initial costs are covered, our fundraising campaign will focus on providing the MSCC with solar and wind power.
With the Matemwe community’s demonstration of a continuing commitment to technologies for education, as illustrated by the MSCC's history and progress, Matemwe School has the foundations for optimal stability following the Jamii OLPC deployment.
The Matemwe community has worked hard to realize the dream of equipping their children with the education, tools and opportunities to improve the lives of their families, community and country. Through OLPCorps, Jamii OLPC can help this dream flourish and grow further—to move from a progressive and innovative idea, to a tangible opportunity for change.
Matemwe School
Matemwe is a fishing village, located on the north-east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania.
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For years, Matemwe was isolated from the rest of the island by an arid, rocky coral rag which lay to the west. In 1993 the road from Mkwajuni was paved with tarmac, and a new era of communication with the outside world began. In 2004 the electricity line was finally extended to the village and the Matemwe School. Matemwe School is a Government School that was built in 1968 and opened in 1970 with 135 students. Today, there are 900+ students enrolled, from the ages of 7-18. Some students walk more than 10kms to reach the school, and teachers are paid less the $2USD/day. Most of the students come from families whose main means of support is seaweed farming or fishing. |
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At Matemwe School, facilities are minimal and there is forever a shortage of school supplies, but the desire for education burns in the hearts of all.
Visit Matemwe School’s official website here.
Project Panga Magae
In January 2006, Matemwe School began a journey toward a dream.
This dream grew from a seedling planted in October 2004, when a privately donated Compaq computer was installed in the Matemwe School library. As teachers received computer training over the course of a year, the Matemwe community began to rally around the idea of teaching their children to become computer literate. Valuable technical skills would open many doors for the next generation; something had to be done.
So, in January 2006, Project Panga Magae was officially started.
 | Project Pagna Magae is a collective effort by Matemwe School officials, teachers, community leaders and international supporters focusing on “bridging the digital divide” for the children of Matemwe.
Over the past three years, Project Pagna Magae has made significant progress:
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Yet, despite all of the efforts of the school and community, 10 computers in a school of over 900 students is no more than a raindrop in the ocean.
Only 15 students are currently able to participate in a computer class. Also, due to the high utility costs (ie. electricity and internet connection) the computers must primarily be used to run an Internet Cafe for tourists.
This provides just enough income to support the computers’ upkeep, but limits the access that Matemwe students and community members have to the lab.
Matemwe School Computer Centre (MSCC) NGO
In March 2009, Project Panga Magae successfully registered the Matemwe School Computer Centre (MSCC) as an official NGO in Zanzibar. Under Zanzibar's Registrar of Societies, the MSCC is Certificate #701.
The MSCC Board of Directors consists of the Project Panga Magae Committee Members, as well as several other teachers and staff at Matemwe School.
An XO Library for MSCC
| The Matemwe School and community have made a commitment to providing their young people with access to and education about technology. They have built this project from the ground-up, surmounted numerous barriers that have risen to block their path, and remain committed.
For this reason, Jamii OLPC, Matemwe School and the Matemwe School Computer Centre are applying to OLPCorps Africa for 100 XO laptops to begin an XO Library in the MSCC. These tools will help Project Panga Magae flourish and grow, and provide the means for Matemwe to move closer to attaining the dream they have already worked so hard to realize. |
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The idea of an XO Library was introduced to the Jamii OLPC team by the MSCC, and subsequently approved by Paul Commons of OLPCorps as an acceptable deployment strategy.
The XO Library is the most feasible option for optimizing student saturation with limited hardware, as it will provide all 500+ primary school students with access to the 100 XOs. The XO Library will primarily serve the youngest generation at Matemwe School.
Standards 1-6 (7-12 yrs) at Matemwe School will rotate in-class computer use throughout the week, and the XO laptops will be available for these children to sign-out and take home each day, providing equal opportunity for each child to take a laptop home at least once a week.
The children will retain all ownership responsibilities for the XOs, and be in charge of the protection and maintenance of the laptops. The Matemwe School Computer Centre will organize the daily operations of the XO Library, as well as provide internet access and charging stations for the laptops.
On weekends, the MSCC will offer peer-facilitated computer-based training programs and educational activities for children, teachers and community members. Emphasis will be placed on facilitating the development of youth-driven social projects, helping children become agents of change in their community.
Matemwe teachers receiving computer training
Jamii OLPC Team
The Jamii OLPC team is made up of four units:
- the International Unit
- the Local Unit
- the Pedagogical Advisory Unit
- the Information Communication Technologies for International Development (ICT4D) Advisory Unit
Cooperation and collaboration between the four units is of paramount importance to the success and sustainability of the project. Because of this, the members of all units will be featured here.
International Unit
These individuals are the core Jamii OLPC team, organizing all major aspects of preparation and deployment. They are also responsible for direct communication with OLPCorps.
Only Sam Burton, Daniel Drake and Gracia Jalea will be participating in the fieldwork aspect of the deployment.
Click on the position title for a full description, and on a team member's name for a full bio.
| Position (F=fieldwork) | Name | Country | University | Major | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator & Political Lead (F) | Samantha Burton | Canada | Carleton University | MA Mass Communications (current) | Samantha.V.Burton@gmail.com
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| Technical Lead (F) | Daniel Drake | United Kingdom | University of Manchester | BA Computer Science (graduate) | dsd@laptop.org
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| Pedagogical Lead (F) | Gracia Jalea | Canada | Concordia University | MA Media Studies (current) | gracia.jalea@gmail.com |
| Logistical & Financial Lead | Laura Tribe | Canada | Carleton University | MA Mass Communications | Tribe.laura@gmail.com |
Matemwe Unit
These individuals are the backbone of this projects success and sustainability. They are providing invaluable ongoing insight throughout the planning process, and will be key leaders during and following the deployment.
The remainder of this information will be provided following a March 23, 2009 meeting at Matemwe School.
| Jamii OLPC Position | Name | Country | Matemwe School connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | Tanzania | ||
| Technical Lead | Tanzania | ||
| Pedagogical Lead | Tanzania | ||
| International Communications | Frederica Boswell | Matemwe School Secretary; BBC Africa | |
| MSCC Student Representative | Pili Sheha Hamza | Tanzania | Matemwe School, Form 1 |
| MSCC Student Representative | Ali Mohammed Peku | Tanzania | Matemwe School, Form 1 |
| Matemwe School Computer Centre Adviser | Tim Boswell | MSCC Chairman |
Pedagogical Advisory Unit
These individuals have extensive experience in all educational aspects of OLPC and the XO laptop, such as early childhood education, building applications in Sugar, pedagogy of technology.
Prior to the deployment, this unit will work with the International and Matemwe Pedagogical Leads to develop an Educator’s Package of flexible curricula and introductory projects.
Emphasis will be placed on developing activities complementing the core subjects least impacted by language or cultural challenges (such as math and science), as well as technological introductory activities (such as internet usage and the Ninakaa Hapa project).
During and after the deployment, the materials in this Educator’s Package will be adapted and utilized by the Matemwe Pedagogical Leads, other Matemwe School teachers, members of the MSCC and--most importantly--students themselves in the ongoing development of XO and technology-based educational strategies.
Peek in on the Educator's Package development process at the Jamii OLPC Curriculum Talk wiki page.
| Name | Country | Occupation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Bakan, B.A., M.A. | Canada | Instructor, Ryerson University, School of Early Childhood Education | adviser on early childhood education curriculum development; SongChild Project Leader |
| Dave Fingrut, B.A. | Canada | MS Elementary Education, Medaille College, Buffalo, NY | adviser on grade 1-6 pedagogical requirements for Ontario and New York State; XO use in elementary education, educational game design with Scratch and Gamemaker |
| Gracia Jalea | Canada | MA Media Studies, Concordia University | Jamii OLPC Pedagogical Lead |
| Dr. Jason Nolan | Canada | Assistant Professor, Ryerson University, School of Early Childhood Education | adviser on curriculum and pedagogy of technology; SongChild Project Leader; research: social technologies for young children, identity construction online, technology and play |
| Dr. Brett Stevens | Canada | Associate Professor, School of Mathematics & Statistics, Carleton University | adviser on XO hardware and software; constructing Sugar applications |
| Jackie Strecker | Canada | MA Communications and Cultures, York University & Ryerson University | adviser on ICTs in international development; peer-to-peer education; Tanzanian culture and Kswahili |
| Ottawa XO Users Group | Canada | advisers on XO hardware and software |
ICT4D Advisory Unit
These individuals and groups have a wide range of expertise and experience related to the OLPCorps project. They have generously offered their time to advise Jamii OLPC on a variety of aspects involved with our proposal.
| Name | Country | Occupation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Josh Greenberg | Canada | Assistant Professor, Carleton University, Communication Studies; Director of the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development. | Sam's MA thesis supervisor and NGO liaison advisor; research: media and communication activities in broader strategic planning on the part of NGOs, non-profits and social movement/activist organizations |
| Dr. Daniel Paré | Canada | Associate Professor, Ottawa University, Department of Communication | research: ICTs for international development, internet governance and regulation, Political economy of ICTs, science & technology policy |
| Dr. Sandra Smeltzer | Canada | Assistant Professor, University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Information & Media Studies | Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia; Western Heads East Advisor, Mwanza, Tanzania; research: ICTs for international development, global political economy of ICTs |
Budget & Fundraising
Jamii OLPC is requesting the full $10,000 stipend from OLPCorps, which will cover ~60% of expenses. A detailed preliminary budget is available here. The MSCC and International Unit will raise funds and pursue sources of sustainable funding to cover the remaining costs.
The most significant challenge to sustainability will be the increase in electricity costs. MSCC has decided that “a self sufficient, no monthly expense system would be the best way to sustain our XO Library”; therefore, after initial costs are covered, our fundraising campaign will focus on providing the MSCC with solar and wind power.
International Unit
- Preliminary planning is taking place for the Jamii Galas, two elegant evenings (one in Ottawa and one in Toronto) that will serve as both promotional and fundraising events. Although still at the very beginning stages, so far we anticipate that these evenings will include a silent auction and presentations from Jamii OLPC team members.
- We are currently in the process of creating an offical Jamii OLPC Sponsorship Package. If Jamii OLPC is approved, this package will be distributed to local businesses and in most cases be specifically geared toward generating support for the Jamii Galas (ie. monetary donations, silent auction items, catering for the Galas, attendance, etc).
Upon confirmation of OLPCorps acceptance, we will also directly approach organizations affiliated with our universities and XO-related technology for funding and support. These include, but are not limited to:
- Carleton Graduate Student Travel/Research Bursary
- The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
- Aga Khan Foundation Canada
- Canadian International Development Agency
- Ottawa Canada Linux Users Group
- Toronto Linux Users Group
Matemwe Unit
Although Matemwe is a rural area afflicted by considerable poverty, it is also a tourist destination and home to several hotels sustained primarily by European business, a disparity that is present in numerous developing regions throughout the world.
However, this also presents a unique opportunity: Matemwe School and the MSCC will focus on developing partnerships with these local hotels, encouraging their involvement in the Matemwe community by committing to assisting with long-term funding for the environmentally friendly power options for the XO Library.
Project Idea Highlights
Educator's Package in Progress
View our Pedagogical Advisory Unit's discussions about curriculum and project development on the Jamii OLPC Curriculum Talk Page.
Formalized ideas will be posted below as they are finalized by the team!
SongChildTwo of the members of our Pedagogical Advisory Unit, Jason Nolan and Danny Bakan, are the Project Leaders of SongChild. The concept of SongChild is "to develop and maintain an on-line community of users, who will work together to write and share kids songs. The mandate of the site is to foster an Open License Music Project, in which users will work together to build upon and create public domain material. This musical repertoire of public domain kid's songs will be available to share and with children everywhere." As curriculum and projects are developed, the Pedagogical Advisory Unit will create a way in which to incorporate the SongChild project into Jamii OLPC. |
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