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See page below for review of Computers for Uganda project update as of August 2009, and the trip in June 2009. The Rotary Club of Sammamish is a major participant in this project. It sponsored the Interact Club of Forest Ridge School which is responsible for the Uganda computers project.
COMPUTERS FOR THE WORLD
Computers for the World (also known as c4w) was started in 1998 by Emerald City Rotary Club (Seattle), Garfield High School Interact Students, Rotarians and Technology Teachers at Garfield High School in Seattle. Student participants are Rotaract and Interact members with technical, linguistic or leadership skills, and the determination to help those in need. In 2000 our program became a Rotary District 5030 Project. In 2001 we expanded the program to Ballard High School in Seattle. In 2002-04 we have brought several new schools into our program, they are: Mount Si High School in North Bend WA, Truman High School in Federal Way WA, Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue, WA, Skyline in Issaquah, Newport in Bellevue. The clubs that have been involved in our program are: Issaquah, North Seattle, Mercer Island, Snoqualmie Valley, Kirkland, Federal Way, Rush Hour, West Seattle, Seattle Four, Des Monies, Ballard Rotary, Bellevue Lunch, Bellevue Breakfast and Emerald City Rotary Clubs, and there are many others who have help with individual projects, supporting the various project teams and c4w. We have taken our first project in the US to the Navajo Indians spring 2003. We have worked with many organizations such as Group Health Cooperative, Premera, Microsoft, the Gates Foundation, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, United Airlines, Rotary, Seattle Public Schools and many others have contributed to our program.
Mission Computers for Uganda 2008
Students from Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and friends from local high schools are currently engaged in fund raising, gathering computer systems, and other preparations to return to Uganda in late June 2008. Once again, the students will seek support from Rotary Clubs, local businesses and individuals. Computers for Uganda is a District 5030 project, under the umbrella of Computers for The World, a non-profit Rotary District 5030 project/organization dedicated to bringing technology to underserved populations.
The goal for summer 2008 is four fold: (1) to install computer labs (15 computers and one printer in each lab) into ten additional schools in Uganda; (2) to return to previous schools to repair and update hardware; (3) to work closely with a team of Ugandans on school installations and technology training for the purpose of knowledge transfer; and (4) to support the computer refurbishing center located in Kampala and launched in summer 2007. Furthermore, we are continuing our efforts to create a pilot project for wireless internet access for recipient schools.
C4W creates a platform for exchange, learning and communication among people, by providing information technology to the international community.
Vision
C4W creates a platform for exchange among people by supplying information technology to the international Community. With this platform, we provide for better learning, communication, and sharing of information and ideas that help people participate in the global community, while simultaneously letting students gain real world experiences in leadership, organization and international relations.
Computers for the World is a multi-location project that:
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Takes donated used technology, (computers and peripherals) and reconditions, upgrades and networks by c4w volunteers (mainly Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors)
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Delivers and installs those computers in areas-in-need, primarily in the International Community.
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Simultaneously provides an international multi-cultural experience to the volunteer participants.
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In addition too educational enrichment in technology, project management, project leadership and many interdisciplinary areas.
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In August of 1999, after several successful projects in 1998 and 1999, an organizational meeting was held to provide long-term structure 503(c)(3) non-profit statues for c4w. The ad hoc committee decided to establish Computers for the World as a non-profit organization, affiliated with Rotary International through the Emerald City Rotary Club of Seattle. The committee elected officers and directors, as well as advisory board members, including students, to the newly restructured c4w. These officers, directors and board members will jointly determine the direction of c4w, its future projects and the scope of its work.
In October of 2000, Seattle Learning Alliance an Emerald City Rotary 501(c)(3), was merged with c4w. Seattle Learning Alliance, originally the Community Computer Net Work, is the focus of our k-12 technology initiative.
We created a mandate to develop a k-12 technology program to help eradicate the digital divide. The mandate had us beginning with a pilot program at Garfield, then to be expanded into the other schools. We anticipate that we would have the student’s help to create the pilot, design the programs, with help from technical programmers/mentors and teachers who would work with the students.
This program is designed to create an educational medium to educate the students in an interdisciplinary field of technology and education. This program would create a level of sophistication that would allow students have an interactive multi-educational experience. Those students could receive technology certifications, and be an integral part of c4w projects that would empower them to have college level job skills, in technology, leadership and project management skills when they graduate from high school. The substance of the program is to obviate the technical divide and to empower those within the program to be educated for technical high paying skilled employment and other areas were they can us the skills learned in our programs.
This program will be a resource that will be used in our technology exchange. With this as an educational platform, we can provide for better learning, communication, and sharing of information and ideas that help people participate in the global community, while simultaneously letting students gain real world experiences in leadership, organization and international relations. This is our c4w mission.
Officers:
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Robin DuBrin, President
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Janet Graeber, Co-Vice President
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John Keithly, Co-Vice President
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Andy McDonald, Secretary
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Charlie Pratt, Treasurer.
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Board of Directors:
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Rosemary Aragon, University Breakfast, International 5030 Chair |
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Richard Mac Lean; Ballard Rotary |
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Bill Poole; Emerald City Rotary |
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Bob Archey; Emerald City Rotary, webmaster |
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John Keithly; Ballard Rotary, Co-Vice President |
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Bill Feldt; Federal Way Rotary |
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Howard Langeveld; North Seattle Rotary |
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Janet Graeber; Sammamish Rotary, Co-Vice President |
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Duane Ruud; West Seattle Rotary |
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Andy McDonald; Emerald City Rotary; Secretary |
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Dick Ryen; Emerald City Rotary |
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Robin Du Brin; Emerald City Rotary; President |
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Charlie Pratt; Emerald City Rotary; Treasurer |
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Warren Crain; Emerald City Rotary |
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Bob Wilson; Lynnwood Rotary |
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Jack Danforth, Kirkland |
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John Martinka, Kirkland |
Organization Chart
Advisory Board:
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Interact and other Students and Tech Teachers of Garfield, Ballard, Mt. Si, Truman High Schools and and Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart.
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Rotary District 5030 Members
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Computers have been sent already to Belize, The Gambia, Colima, Mexico; Gatchina, and Petropavlovsk, Kamchatsky, Gatchina Saratov and Balashov Russia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Ethiopia, Mozambique, Poland, Philippines, Guatemala, India, Navajo Nation and Uganda to serve as teaching tools in rural elementary schools, middle schools, technical universities and orphanages. The trips to Maputo, Mozambique, Lodz, Poland, and Guatemala City, Guatemala used Rotary Foundation Matching Grant Program. We have many additional requests for technology serving needs throughout the world. This year 2004, C4W will focus on four new projects, Kathmandu Nepal; Guatemala, Namibia, Fiji and return projects in Belize and Uganda. As part of the c4w fund raising campaign, we have the produced a world music CD for c4w benefit . One dollar of each CD goes to the benefit of the Polio Plus Rotary Program, the remainder of the proceeds from the the c4w are used to promote scholarships for students and for operating costs. The C4W Board of Directors has expressed a strong interest in providing computers to locations where the equipment will be used for a significant period of time to better health, education and cultural relations for the people at the receiving site. Accordingly, future C4W trips will likely return to previous projects to service and repair the computers and labs and further develop and expand our programs, will be chosen based upon recommendations from Rotary Clubs, or other reputable organizations. The C4W board will review all proposals and determine if all the requirements are in place at the receiving end. Major businesses in the Seattle area—Group Health Cooperative, Blue Cross, Microsoft, the Gates Foundation, Alaska Air Lines, Boeing, United Airlines, Rotary Seattle Public Schools and many others have contributed computers, software licenses, funds, air miles, etc.. Other businesses will be encouraged to contribute in the future. NOTE: The c4w has produced a guidebook for c4w projects and for other Rotary Clubs to be apart of c4w and our expansion to other Rotary Clubs, schools and communities. C4W has developed procedures for use by sponsoring Interact and Rotary Clubs whom wish to implement this type of international, vocational and community service project. Please contact Rotarians Robin DuBrin, Rosemary Aragon, Charlie Pratt, Dick Ryen, Bob Archey and Andy McDonald, (cell 206-465-4383 Emerald City Rotary Club, Rotary District 5030, Seattle, Washington, or any of the board members.
Update March 29, 2008 from the Ineract Club of Forest Ridge School
Fact Sheet: Computers for Uganda Projects
Uganda Vision: To deploy technology in primary and secondary schools in rural Uganda in order to provide educational tools for learning, working and to empower young people and adults with hands-on skills and opportunities to grow in technical careers.
Why Uganda: Uganda, located in East Africa, is one of the twenty most poverty stricken countries in the world. Recovering from the political turmoil that ensued following their independence from Great Britain, many of the people are poor, ill and uneducated. Prior to 1992 less than 5% of the population had access to education with the focus on men, not women. In 1992, the Ugandan government mandated that both men and women had the right to be educated. The present Ugandan government, committed to education, grapples with insufficient funding for computer technology. At the same time, this government acknowledges the need for students and adults to acquire the skills to use the technology effectively in order to improve the life of the people.
The Project: Computers for Uganda is a partnership among Rotarians, Computers for the World, local businesses, individuals, and students from Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Mount Si High School, South Kitsap High School, and the government of Uganda to bring technology to schools in Uganda. Launched in fall 2002, to date, 900 computers have been deployed in sixty-one secondary and eight primary schools as well as one primary teacher training college. Each of the selected primary and secondary schools strives to educate young women with at least 50% of the student population female so that they can educate their children. The schools range in size from 400 to 2200 students and represent both government and private education. Many students enter the workforce upon completion of their secondary education. Knowing how to word process and use spreadsheets will enhance opportunity for employment. We strive to build a relationship between us and the schools that one day will grow into an electronic connected community. Each school has a dedicated technology teacher. At present, we rely on internet cafes for communication and personal interactions during the summer trips. The American team travels to Uganda late June for 3 weeks. Their work in Uganda spans visiting the former recipient schools, installing computers and training on use of applications in the new schools, and experiencing the local culture.
Project Support: Each year the American Team engages in fund raising to offset the expenses incurred with refurbishing the computers, transportation of computers and acquisition of printers and print cartridges. Presently, the Team accepts donations of PIII and P4 computer systems and monitors. In Uganda, the selected schools secure funds to offset the expenses incurred to update the electrical wiring of the classroom to house the computers, build the furniture for the equipment, and acquire stabilizers and power strips. In-country living arrangements, transportation and opportunities to interact with the people and see the country are arranged by Honorable Minister of ICT and Member of Parliament John Alintuma C. Nsambu, our government partner. From the beginning in summer, 2003 the American Team initiated relationships with a small group of Ugandans to serve as partners in the installation and training work. Our goal is to build a cadre of individuals to train people on maintaining and using the technology as well as to provide on-site maintenance support. We continue to investigate in-country avenues for providing teachers support in using the technology as a curriculum-based tool to enhance the curricular content.
Preparation: Students meet for six months to learn about Uganda, to collect computers, to practice troubleshooting potential installation problems and cable making, and to practice teaching techniques on using and maintaining the hardware. In addition, the students create simple guides for using the computers. This year the computers will be refurbished in Uganda by a trained team of local people. Students also engage in fund raising activities and spend time together learning to work as a team. Prior to travel, students and their families come together to meet and to establish the "home communication system" while the students are in Uganda.
Impact: Recipient schools in summer 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 have extended the use of the computer labs to the local community. This cross-purpose use of the facilities occurs in the evenings, on weekends, and during school holidays. One of the schools has established a partnership with World Vision. In exchange for use of the facilities, World Vision helps to underwrite the costs of a technology teacher salary and related costs, e.g., electricity. Another school sent their technology teacher to India to gain advanced skills. This teacher now serves as resource for other schools in the district. In several of the schools students have successfully sat the "O Level" Exam in Computer Science. Summer 2005, 2006, and 2007 schools showed a stronger community effort to bring the technology to their village. In some instances, the community had spent two years in preparation to receive the technology. Most impressive is the care given to the hardware, the thirst for knowledge that exudes from adults and children, and the spirit of sharing these resources within their community.
Computers for Uganda 2009
Students from Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and friends from local high schools are currently engaged in fund raising, gathering computer systems, and other preparations to return to Uganda in late June 2009. Once again, the students will seek support from Rotary Clubs, local businesses and individuals. Computers for Uganda is a District 5030 project, under the umbrella of Computers for The World, a non-profit Rotary District 5030 project/organization dedicated to bringing technology to underserved populations.
The goal for summer 2009 is four fold: (1) to install computer labs (90 computers and one printer in each lab) into nine additional schools in Uganda; (2) to return to previous schools to repair and update hardware; (3) to work closely with a team of Ugandans on school installations and technology training for the purpose of knowledge transfer; and (4) to support the computer refurbishing center located in Kampala and launched in summer 2007. Furthermore, we are continuing our efforts to create a pilot project for wireless internet access for recipient schools.
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