The bulk of today’s blog was written by Seth Owusu of Entire Village Computers Organization (EVCOAfrica.org). In it, he reflects on his recent journey to Ghana for the Peace and Education Project. Insignia is proud to have participated in this endeavor.
The trip was fast and exciting! The journey to the location where "Peace and Education Project" is aimed in Northern Ghana is a long way from the capital (Accra). I jokingly told students at Yendi High School during a speech that it took me shorter time to fly from USA to Accra (11.5 hours) than going from Accra to Yendi (15 hours)! After successfully installing a networked computer lab at Yendi Community Information Center with our educational program ‘RACHEL Server,’ I went to the high school for a speech and to invite students to spend their school vacation time at the computer lab instead of at street corners where they could easily get into trouble. After the speech and Q&A, I was invited to the school's computer lab where 2000 students share 11 computers most of which did not work!
At SDA primary and middle schools (population, 810) during our "Photos and Fun" program, we really put Insignia cameras and flip-cams to test in the heat and humidity, taking over a thousand photos! After a quick lesson on cameras and digital photography, the students were showing their curiosity and skills during our photography workshop. Our “photo printing center” was surrounded by teachers and students, amazed at our battery operated printer that instantly printed their photos with no wires! Our “School is Cool” message was greatly received by teachers and students alike as I told the students about education, technology and staying in school. When it was time to leave for another village, the students asked us to return to their school soon.
Our follow-up visits at the two most recent school lab donations; Ho-Bankoe and Apeguso Primary school labs also went tremendously well. All 16 desktops and 2 laptops donated in 2010 are working and in great shape! At Apeguso, it was surprising to have PTA meet my team to express their gratitude for our kind gesture for their village school. I thanked them for their commitment and devotion for the children: the future leaders of Ghana! The students also had fun with the new addition to RACHEL Server (science experimental videos and various speeches by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, etc.). This time we had a projector.
The trip was a great success. It is now a challenge for me to work harder to solicit more computers and other electronics as applications for EVCO programs keep growing within Ghana and many parts of Africa.
For information on how you can help, visit EVCOAfrica.org’s Get Involved page.
John (John-INSG)
on:
Blu-ray 101
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