With the goal of increasing the computer literacy of young Ugandans, AGYA reached out to world-renowned organization, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC).
OLPC is dedicated to creating educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. OLPC works with non-profit organizations, schools, and governments, and in recent months, has launched projects in India, Nigeria, and Rwanda. The video below highlights OLPC's amazing work:
AGYA is honored to announce that we were selected to receive a grant of 10 laptop computers from OLPC.
“In the 21st Century, most 11-year olds in the United States know how to conduct a Google Search, compose an e-mail message, build a blog, upload pictures to Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter! In the urban slums of Uganda, these skills are relegated to the privileged. Most of our students cannot pay the high fees associated with using trendy public internet cafes. But, thanks to our collaboration with OLPC, AGYA members will have free access to the World Wide Web and opportunities to enhance and develop their computer literacy skills. This is so important, and I am honored that OLPC chose AGYA as a laptop project beneficiary.” said AGYA Co-Founder and Executive Director, Divinity Barkley.
AGYA’s laptops are currently en route to Uganda. AGYA’s leadership team expects to have the laptops in Uganda by March. Upon receipt of the laptops, AGYA will implement a project that will supplement the Ugandan Primary and Secondary School reading, writing, and mathematics syllabus using the interactive games and applications within the XO laptop as a fun, innovative teaching aid.
For AGYA Co-Founder and Secretariat, Abraham Matovu, the acquisition of the laptops was an essential piece of the puzzle to making the AGYA Computer Lab fully functional because:
1. AGYA’s target community (children/youth ages 6-20 living in urban slums), has limited access to the World Wide Web and digital technology, thus are unable to access information and develop the skills needed to actively contribute to the 21st Century Global World.
2. The majority of students in AGYA’s target community have failed to fully comprehend the fundamentals of Mathematics during their Primary Education, and thus are at a major learning disadvantage as they move forward in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Algebra, Geometry and Calculus. Additionally, the Education System in Uganda focuses on theoretical learning, especially with mathematics. The proposed project will construct mathematics within the practical realm by providing interactive hands-on math games.
In addition to teaching basic computer skills and focusing on interactive math games, AGYA is exploring opportunities to partner with other OLPC laptop recipients on electronic pen-pal projects.
For updates on the status of AGYA’s OLPC Project, visit: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Amagezi_Gemaanyi
OLPC is dedicated to creating educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. OLPC works with non-profit organizations, schools, and governments, and in recent months, has launched projects in India, Nigeria, and Rwanda. The video below highlights OLPC's amazing work:
“In the 21st Century, most 11-year olds in the United States know how to conduct a Google Search, compose an e-mail message, build a blog, upload pictures to Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter! In the urban slums of Uganda, these skills are relegated to the privileged. Most of our students cannot pay the high fees associated with using trendy public internet cafes. But, thanks to our collaboration with OLPC, AGYA members will have free access to the World Wide Web and opportunities to enhance and develop their computer literacy skills. This is so important, and I am honored that OLPC chose AGYA as a laptop project beneficiary.” said AGYA Co-Founder and Executive Director, Divinity Barkley.
AGYA’s laptops are currently en route to Uganda. AGYA’s leadership team expects to have the laptops in Uganda by March. Upon receipt of the laptops, AGYA will implement a project that will supplement the Ugandan Primary and Secondary School reading, writing, and mathematics syllabus using the interactive games and applications within the XO laptop as a fun, innovative teaching aid.
For AGYA Co-Founder and Secretariat, Abraham Matovu, the acquisition of the laptops was an essential piece of the puzzle to making the AGYA Computer Lab fully functional because:
1. AGYA’s target community (children/youth ages 6-20 living in urban slums), has limited access to the World Wide Web and digital technology, thus are unable to access information and develop the skills needed to actively contribute to the 21st Century Global World.
2. The majority of students in AGYA’s target community have failed to fully comprehend the fundamentals of Mathematics during their Primary Education, and thus are at a major learning disadvantage as they move forward in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Algebra, Geometry and Calculus. Additionally, the Education System in Uganda focuses on theoretical learning, especially with mathematics. The proposed project will construct mathematics within the practical realm by providing interactive hands-on math games.
In addition to teaching basic computer skills and focusing on interactive math games, AGYA is exploring opportunities to partner with other OLPC laptop recipients on electronic pen-pal projects.
For updates on the status of AGYA’s OLPC Project, visit: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Amagezi_Gemaanyi
