This post springs from a comment in the previous thread. It also explains a project that I hope will fill my time while I’m here in Kenya.
There are many needs here in Kenya, the majority of which I am not really in a position to help with. A myriad western NGOs seem to be tackling two most prescient problems, poverty and disease. However, I perceived a growing issue in this country that could be addressed in a novel way. The digital divide, often talked about online from zippety 1mb ADSL connections can be observed widening here by the month. Not only that, but access even to low speed Internet is beyond many people in rural areas.
When it comes to facilities for schools, well you night as well forget about it. They can’t even afford books for their pupils.
As westerners, Hannah and I have a lot of cash compared to the average Kenyan. Despite this fact, as you can see from an earlier post, we cannot afford even a basic internet connection at home. It is too expensive. Luckily, in most urban areas, there are internet cafes. These are affordable, but usually share a low bandwidth (64kbps is the norm) up to 15 ways. This is fine for us in checking email and serves us well.
In Nairobi, Mombassa and now in Kisumu, there is ADSL (I’m test driving a connection right now for a local internet café, thanks Kenshop!), but it is new, expensive and will take a long time for people to take up. The other problem with ADSL is that you need a telephone line. This is fine in a city, but if you live in a rural area, you must pay for the “last mile” in order to be connected. This means you need to pay for the cables, poles, exchange, whatever plus installation. This makes it un-feasible if the last nearest point is nowhere near your town or village.
Most big NGOs use VSAT for their internet connection. It is VERY expensive to set up, but allows coverage in even the remotest areas. VSAT connections can also be split many over a wide area although a new VSAT terminal is then needed at each access point
Once the access is sorted, the problem then becomes hardware and software. A PC or W/Intel box with a P4 or Athlon chip costs about $600 here, plus screen (say $200+). Software suites cost more on top (I’m thinking in terms of MS office, it would be $200+, even for the student edition).
And then I had an idea.
How about creating a facility to enable school children in rural area to access the Internet. What I want to do is to get a truck, weld a classroom on to it, add a generator and a mobile VSAT and then fill it with a server and 10-15 thin client terminals with screens and keyboards. The server would run linux with open office, firefox. This facility would then be driven around the local district’s public schools (read ‘comprehensive’ or ‘state’ school here, depending on your country) on a monthly basis. The idea is to save money by having a pared down, shared resource that can cut out the expensive hurdles that stand in the way of providing basic computing lessons to young people outside of urban areas in poor countries.
It all hinges on something that came up on metafilter a while back about thin client systems and open source software. The project is called Ndiyo. I have no idea whether any project I look to start would use this exact technology, but thin client + open source + mobility seems to be the only affordable way I can think of to take the internet out of the cities an in to the rural areas.
If anyone wants to help by getting behind this, just drop me an email. I’m in the process of writing a proposal and costing. Not sure who I’m going to show it to yet though…
David, what a good idea. The government in this country, sponsored by the EU, used to go round in a converted bus to show the rural poor - Upwell and places like that- how computers would be the best way to communication via email when the postal service expires. Mr Moss MP showed it off, then the service was cancelled. EU Funding? You might have a problem with security, and a nervous government thinking you are encouraging literacy and knowledge and then defiance. Or mistaken for a WMD truck by the Americans. Some large company might fund your enterprise as a way of demonstrating conspicuous public service. Wish you good fortune.
It’s a wonderful idea, but make sure the schools will allow it (and the local school boards or whoever)–you’ll be interrupting their curriculum. Maybe as an afterschool thing? It could be all internet-based too–there are online word processors now and everything.
We can all help you collect good bookmarks on all subjects too. : >
It reminds me of elementary school, after budget cuts took away art here…we had art via a rolling cart and teacher that would go from classroom to classroom. (more follows….)
And it re
And it reminds me also of bookmobiles, like from RIF (Reading is Fundamental)
i’ll totally help in any way i can! : )
Also, don’t neglect teaching the teachers and staff of the school–they will be your most enthusiastic allies in this…maybe we eventually can start a “donate your old computer” thing or something too?
I’m not sure about linux tho–shouldn’t you use stuff that they’ll use in real life?
and get registered as a non-profit or something–you can get grants if you really want to make a go of this–it’s an excellent idea, and could go worldwide. It’s definitely needed (and i’ll mail you AIR by Ryman if you want–it sort of deals with this)
Maybe hook up with that new UN program for 100 dollar laptops?
i’m sure we could do a collection to hook you up with a netmobile full of those easy : )
and post this to AskMe–people will have great ideas to help there too…
You’ll definitely have to write up a great proposal, outlining the benefits and stuff–i’m sure Hannah knows how, if you haven’t. I bet you could get the laptops free if the writeup is good enough. Contact MS’s charity arm too:
The Gates Foundation
also (i’m on a roll now)–look into contacting people like these for advice–i did a fpp on it a while ago–an Indian group who sets up computer labs in poor slums there — Cybermohalla — here at metafilter.
(and get grants for staff and i’ll be there in a flash!)
Amberglow, I’ll have a look at those links.
To address a couple of your points:
AMBERGLOW:…..make sure the schools will allow it (and the local school boards or whoever)–you’ll be interrupting their curriculum.
This is very true and is something I hadn’t considered yet. From the start, it will be important to get schools involved. Without a sense of ownership and direction, a project such as this will just be a way of burning donated money without any tangible outputs. As a pilot project, a project like this would involve only those schools that wish to participate.
AMBERGLOW: …Maybe as an afterschool thing?
I think it would have to run during school time. Class sizes here are huge (we’re talking 60+ to a class). This project would need to affect as many kids in a day as possible. It would need to run all day for a few days to reach an entire school + teachers.
Moreover, once an introductory program has been completed (introduction to computer, introduction to the internet, introduction to multimedia manipulation, etc) the resource will still exist, so then it could be used as a tool to allow teachers to enrich students’ curricular learning during the school day.
AMBERGLOW: It could be all internet-based too–there are online word processors now and everything.
Due to serious bandwidth restrictions (VSAT links I’m thinking of are 16/64kbps by 15/20, and even then the cost is bloody extortionate), online tools would be achingly slow. With a server running openoffice, GIMP and Firefox over a gigabit LAN, bandwidth should not be an issue when running non-internet services. There may be server bottleneck at times and to be honest, GIMP might floor a thin client model.
AMBERGLOW: I’m not sure about linux tho–shouldn’t you use stuff that they’ll use in real life?
You have an excellent point here. Its difficult to argue against. However, cost has got to be the deciding factor here, as has the fact that, if a child has absolutely no previous exposure to software, what harm is there in showing them a ’similar’ product to that which the majority of (today�s) office workers use? By the time they are older, who’s to say open source stuff isn’t the dominant force in software? (I know, it is unlikely, but I’m just arguing my corner here…)
If a school can’t afford books, it can’t afford 15 (w)Intel PC boxes, 15 copies of XP, a copy of windows server, 15 copies of Photoshop and 15 copies of MS office. I wish they could. Linux is free. Open source software is free. Thin clients allow more people to use a service at the same time for drastically lower hardware outlay.
AMBERGLOW: and get registered as a non-profit or something–you can get grants if you really want to make a go of this
This may take some time and I might consider it. For now, I want to focus on a proposal, then pitch it to both funding/donor bodies and commercial sponsors.
AMBERGLOW: it’s an excellent idea, and could go worldwide.
Luckily, there have been two instances of Mobile Internet projects that have run in the last 6 years. One, in Malaysia, has been a roaring success. Another, in Nigeria, has been a bit of a damp squib, it seems. These projects are here:
1. http://www.apdip.net/projec…
2. http://www.collaborium.org/…
To contrast, here’s a link to a critical comparison.
AMBERGLOW: It’s definitely needed
This is true. It is. I cannot think of another way to quickly address the devide between rural and urban internet access, even in your own fair US of A.
David you will have to write a formal proposal and submit it to Gates Foundation, get lots of publicity HERE in UK with Technology Guardian.
Even if it means you personally have a satellite internet laptop and visit school TEACHERS to show how it can be done. PUBLICITY OFTEN LEADS TO CASH.
Make a plan for the lone internet explorer YOU, get splash publicity and some TV coverage. You migh need Four thousand quid a month for six months just for the satellite internet access. So give it a go.
Post your proposal on the web not just the blog. Good Luck
it’s completely worth doing–more that that–it’s essential and will help those kids. : >
let me know what i can do–i betcha MS would donate the software too.
also, use those guerilla marketing skills you have—find the most influential parents/older kids in each town/school, and get them onboard as allies when you go to the schools and school boards…spread the word/blablabla…you know what to do. : >
Let me know if you need stats or anything or links or contacts…i can probably dig up stuff for you…
OK, this blog system does not allow HTML in comments! It will only interpret links. I have to update this. Apparently, there’s a script that allows BBCode (such as [b] bold [/b) and I’ll activate that sometime this week.
MUM: David you will have to write a formal proposal and submit it to Gates Foundation, get lots of publicity HERE in UK with Technology Guardian.
Good idea. I’m not sure how into a thin-client model the Gates foundation would be though… if they really likes it though, I guess the project could evolve. For now though, its thin clients, opensource and volunteer work! Have a look at this site. It has lots of great free ICT development sources (think I’ll metafil;ter it soon too:
http://www.bridges.org
As for contacting the Guardian, all things in good time!
Not to put a dampener on the idea but in 11 March issue of New Scientist is an article ‘Welcome to the open source cellphone’ which suggests that in the developing world "cellphones are a really promising computing platform". Since so many in Southern Africa do have a cellphone already this looks like replacing a PC possibly.
Love, Carol (in the middle of an OFSTED inspection!)
keep us posted, David, and let me know what i can do here in NY….lists of non-profits that will grant, etc…whatever…. : >
Have you heard about this stuff? from ISOC
I’ll keep you posted. I’ve written a first draft of a proposal and have to flesh out quite a lot of it. Must dash now. There’s a fattened goat in the garden that needs to be turned into dinner for tonight’s party. Wish you guys were all here…
… I’ll post photos.