We are exploring possibilities for equipping a community centre, such as getting computers through World Computer Exchange (WCE). Any advice or comments would be welcome.
Background information on our project is given below, followed by some responses to points raised by Layton Montgomery in his posting to the list on February 3rd. We also have a specific query relating to software, which I will ask first. Software query: In the long term we recognise that there are good reasons for using Open Source, but we have no relevant experience. Obviously if we do get computers we will need technical support, and as available expertise favours Microsoft, we are likely to start with Microsoft. We have heard that there are some problems about using 'normal' versions of Microsoft in some African countries, and that a special African version has to be acquired. (This is nothing to do with piracy. It is a completely different issue.) Can someone shed light, and let me know if it has any implications for use in Nigeria? Background information on project OOCD2000+ (Oke-Ogun Community Development Agenda 2000 Plus) is a grassroots community project in rural Nigeria aiming to use ICTs effectively and appropriately to benefit the community (not easy in an area with no telephones and rudimentary electricity supplies). The OOCD committee formed in 2001. Since July 2002 OOCD2000+ has had two full-time field officers, and in January 2003 we took possession of a building in Ago-Are as the OOCD2000+ centre. This means we can install some computers. We understand that WCE has a schools emphasis. OOCD200+ is gradually developing special interest groups within the community. We do have an education special interest group. It is led by Adebite Johnson, who is the geography teacher at Ago-Are Baptist Secondary School. Ref -- Original Message --From: "Layton Montgomery" My thanks for a helpful and detailed description of life as it really is. In response to points raised: > Teachers were anxious to get started teaching computer > classes Our teachers' initial interest is not in teaching computer classes, but in the potential of ICTs for communicating and gaining information. For instance, Adebite Johnson wants to use the potential of computers to support his subject work. His most urgent thought is that somehow it might help him to improve the standards of the geography department, which is terribly under-resourced. He also wants to exchange information with other schools. He became interested when the Solo solar powered computer was demonstrated at his school last June. It was the first time he had seen a computer. He was excited to discover that you can get information out of computers. He is delighted that his links with OOCD2000+ have helped him to get a new globe for his class, an atlas and a world map. Adebite Johnson can also access information on CD-ROMS, to share with his students, thanks to the OOCD2000+ field officer, David Mutua, and his laptop, Adebite Johnson will also be contacting groups such as SchoolNet and Teachers Without Borders through David, who currently travels a half day journey to Ibadan to do overnight web-browsing and email sessions on behalf of the project. (see thread on email for rural Africa) > I think that Frederick's various > concerns are perfectly valid (snip) he raises: > > What is the impact on recipients (snip) Are such > > gift-horses appreciated well, or simply abused and misused by > > recipients, who feel they've got the PCs in an easy way anyway? Even free computers would not be seen as 'easy'. OOCD2000+ has worked hard to get this far, laying all the foundations of the project, which ensure that it has excellent social capital. People have put in an enormous amount of time and effort and we have dug into our own pockets, but we simply do not have the financial resources to get computers without outside help of some kind. WCE computers would be seen as the result of long hard effort and would not be treated lightly. > As long as the planned obscelence model of computer design continues, > there will continue to be a source of computers available through > donation. The more sustainable approach would seem to be (snip) such as the > simputer in India, the volkscomputer in Brazil, and Walmart's > Linux-based machine in the US. Hopefully more will happen in this area. If we get WCE computers we will do our best to put them to good use (although, thanks to the list, I am now more aware and concerned about the issues of final disposal). We appreciate that they are not the *best* tools for the job - but we anticipate that they will be *much better* than what we have now - our single laptop, which in turn was much better than nothing at all. We do have concerns about the level of technical support that may be needed, software costs, and the electrical power that will be needed to keep them running, but we will do our best to overcome these difficulties, just as we have done our best to overcome our previous and present difficulties. Like Layton and others, we also look forward to more happening regarding a more sustainable approach. We saw what seemed the *best tool for the job* when we saw the Solo, but Solos are not an option yet, and we have to push forward with what we can get. We are encouraged by the possibility of equipment through schemes such as WCE. Pamela McLean On behalf of OOCD2000+ ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
