African Schools on Line the sustainable educational program that works
There is much we take for granted living in the Western Hemisphere, including access to Health Care, Education, safe drinking water and electricity. Take a moment to view the bigger picture, everyday life for continents including Africa, Asia, South America and some former Eastern Europe countries lack such everyday assurances that we view as basic entitlements.
Education is sited "as the Single most powerful weapon against poverty", an irony exists where education is highly valued and prized but for the many access is limited or prohibited given costs at secondary level or limitations with even basic school resources.
Imagine if you can schools with no equipment except a room, well worn desks and possibly a black board. Surely such children eager to learn and their dedicated teachers deserve encouragement and support, hence the development of African Schools on Line since 1995.
Outline: This innovative program aids Schools and local communities to both view and grasp the bigger picture, by identifying and addressing limitations of educational and skills opportunities in overseas schools and communities, through the development of appropriate and sustainable programs.
Why Computers? It's a valid place to start, whether we like it or not, I.T is a Global process affecting us all.
However for developing countries the skills divide remains significantly disproportionate to Western countries, necessitating urgent input to enable equal access to the global platform.
The Package: Commitment, Transparency and Viability are key requirement for any potential project support undertaken by CfC. As an established UK Charity, CfC remains fully accountable too donors and recipients for good practice and stewardship of resources. Hence all new participants seeking entry into the program are required to fulfill our criteria for acceptance.
Criteria include; Site assessment, Skills analysis, the undertaking by participants to maximise usage of resources providing shared access for neighboring schools and community, etc.
ASOL provides all the tools for a successful outcome, including all equipment and localised training including Curriculum, Business, Software and Hardware development. Plus making provision for ongoing support and addition of further Skills and Vocational initiatives developed by CfC. Results speak for themselves; our Zimbabwe schools program alone yielded 100% GCSE level exam results in computer studies.
This program has much scope, it works and provides the potential to benefit thousands more children world wide, plus improving opportunities for life through employment.
Imagine. Aged only nine and witnessing the rape and massacre of your entire family and your village, as you stand rooted outside the burnt out hut that 30 minutes before was home. Frozen by disbelief, fear and confusion you remain rooted to the spot.
What would you do? Where would you go? The life you know has been in this one place with one group of people, all are now dead.
This is a true story. Ali is that nine year old boy, abducted by the people who brutally murdered his parents, brothers, sisters and villagers before destroying the village. He was starved, beaten and brutalised but managed to escape. In relative terms Ali was lucky, others have been less fortunate in a region where civil conflict has been rampant for decades.
Support provided by "African Schools on Line" is very much hands on, enabling Trauma support for Ali and the other children shown; sadly stories such as Ali's" are far from unique
Who has financed all this?
It began in 1995 from a single request to supply three secondary schools in Zimbabwe with computers. Simon Rooksby (Founder) went out put it together and the rest is now history.
CfC receives 500 requests per day from Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and throughout Africa requesting access to African Schools on Line. The task is immense.
The bottom end is this; support is limited. Much more could be achieved with more financial support!!!
£5000 represents the cost of preparing and shipping a 20' container including all the resources required to set up 20 schools from scratch.
We remain grateful to Companies and individuals providing hardware and varying resources. As you can imagine it's one thing to be given a quantity of equipment, but what of the bigger picture?
It's quite another to get items into full working condition and then ship to the point of need - in this case rural schools in South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya and so forth..
Air Zimbabwe has been fantastic in their support of the Zimbabwean program. Combined with an accolade from DFID "We have witnessed many schools projects in Africa, but African Schools on Line is one of the few projects we have seen that works"!!
Thanks also to Data Developments, British Airways, Kenyan Airways, Zimbabwe Ministry of Education, British Council and British High Commission
Can you help us to help them?
OK! So you've got all the big boys on board and everything is hunky-dory. Wrong?
We don't want to stop the expansion of these programs, but we desperately need further sponsorship from companies and individuals who can grab hold of the vision of "African Schools on Line" and make it happen.
As with Vincent and Hilary from Southern Ireland who gave 6 months of their time and skills to undertake training and installation to 20 new schools in Western Kenya.
Right! Bring it down to my Level. Let's say I'm someone who is grabbed by the concept of African Schools on Line. How could I realistically support the program?
Fundraising for African Schools on Line is one of many possibilities, plus the tax benefits by gift aiding and corporate gift aid do make a difference.
£40 will provide one computer and the necessary backup for one year. Plus more as our containers also carry AID materials including; medical supplies, clothing, etc
That works out at 77p a week - give or take - much less than a Saturday paper
To pledge support, donations can be made on line via our home page or email: info@computersforcharities.org for further information.
VAT free low cost refurbished PC & Mac systems. Only available to UK Charities, Schools, Church groups, etc. Special offer (D26) Dell PIV system with Windows XP Pro, Office 2003 and 12 months AVG with 15” flat screen monitor: £99. Complete Desktop systems and Laptops from £50. Flat screen monitors from £20 (for full information and stock list click MORE below)
moreBumper year. Thank you for supporting our 2009 Christmas Shoebox Elderly Appeal (click MORE below for further information)
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moreGraphic design services especially for Charities, Voluntary organisations and church groups. First impressions count. Need a logo, updating brochures, flyers, etc. We can help.
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