A Chance for Change Part II: A Way Out

July 13, 2003

Some of you might remember a year ago when I so joyfully sent Nancy to the states for three weeks, confident that it would be a happy occasion to look after the twins by myself. For reasons I don't quite understand, she does not remember it that way. Please remember her as I leave for three weeks in the United States tomorrow.

Anyone who has been in Africa for a while has that moment. You hit the steering wheel and just yell `Why? Why does it have to BE this way?'

Most of those moments occur when I'm at a school. I know how much of a struggle it is for parents to afford to send their children to get an education. The issue is: what do they get for their money?

The sad answer is that they don't get much. It isn't that the teachers, for the most part, aren't sincere and hardworking. But without resources like books and additional teachers (average class size is almost 60) it is unrealistic to have high expectations. Many of the teachers are not well educated; some are parents who long for more for their children but never were educated themselves.

I was talking to a teacher who scraped up the money to take a computer class at a college. After taking a class for the whole term, she still had not even SEEN a computer. She `learned' to type on a piece of cardboard.

Oracle, the second largest software company in the world, was, at one time, almost 40% Indian. What is interesting about that is that in ONE generation, India went from having exclusively rich and poor to the largest growing middle class in the world.

Technology changed that country.

And so what I want to try is rather outlandish considering the poor US economy and the infrastructure here.

I want to build a computer center at each school that we feed.

Instead of constructing a building, we want to convert old metal shipping containers into classrooms. The cost is so much cheaper, and the buildings will be secure. Since only one of the schools has power, we will install solar panels on the roof. With a battery, inverter and a few items, we can get set up:

Container: $1200.00

Remodel: $3000.00

Solar Panels: $3000.00

Batteries: $1000.00

Inverter: $650.00

Charge Controller: $350.00

Cables: $160.00

Back up Generator $700.00

Transport $400.00

Construction fee: $530.00

$10990.00

The problem with buying computers in this country is that they don't tend to synch the chips well, so we would probably buy refurbished Dell's. I can get Pentium 3's for about $200.00 each. We would begin with ten to twelve computers @ each school.

Our software would begin with all Microsoft products: the Office Suite, Typing Tutor, Encarta and Magic School Bus. I'm hoping to be able to talk with someone from MS when I'm in the states to get a better idea of cost.

I've trained two Kenyans on the packages because I think it is important that it isn't “big whitey” coming to the rescue. A wise friend of mine told me once that the solution needs to come from the people you are trying to help. I just want to help provide the tools.

Let me add a few thoughts:

Don't worry about this if it is not a fit. The economy is bad in the states. It's not a problem if this isn't for you.
If you are supporting the school lunch program, please don't drop that to do this. They are separate programs, and both are important.
If this seems like a fit, you can send a check made out to AIM at the address listed below. Just include a note saying it is for the A Way Out: Computer Center Peifer - project #000336; they will send you a tax deductible receipt.
We will start with one school, and try to work out the bugs. If funds come in, we will keep going.

I'm so grateful for the support you have given to the school lunch program, and I think it is so important to the children. It has enabled children to stay in school, and provided proper nutrition to 5000 kids six days a week. I'm excited about the computers because if it works right, it can be a means to give them a chance to escape the inconceivable poverty here.

I just want them to have a way out.

I'm so tired of it being the way it is.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Your Pal,

Steve