Innovative and self-sustaining computer classroom; scholarship program to keep poorest girls in school

The government of Senegal does not provide funding for computer classrooms. This self-sustaining and innovative classroom and computer teacher makes computer training and internet available to 5000 people a) To students to expand their access to global information
b) To students to train them in skills that will make them competitive for employment

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Project: Establish a computer classroom with internet access that will reach as many students and as many other people in the community as possible. Create an extraordinarily innovative model that will make it sustainable long term, since no Senegal governmental assistance available for computer classrooms.

Needs Addressed and Intended beneficiaries: Gueoul is a poverty-stricken remote sandy feisty village out at the edge of the ever-expanding Sahara Desert. In another age, we would call this project a miracle. The infinite information on the internet is now available:
a) To students to expand their access to global information
b) To students to train them in skills that will make them competitive for employment
c) To teachers and school administrators, to enhance their access to information and to give them tools to strengthen their skills
d) To health care workers, to enhance their access to information and to give them tools to strengthen their skills
e) To all the people of the community, to enhance their access to information and to give them tools to strengthen their skills. This includes farmers, re-forestation workers, small business entrepreneurs, etc.

The beneficiaries are the 2,300 students in the village: 160 students in the 3-year Lyceé/high school, about 670 students in the 5-year middle school, and more than 1,500 in the five 5-year elementary schools. The beneficiaries include 80 teachers and the entire population of Gueoul, estimated at 5000 people.

Community Benefit. People in all types of work and of all ages will have access to global information, which then benefit the health, education, welfare, and income-producing ability throughout the entire community population.

Time to Complete the Project: It is expected to be completed by December 31, 2010.

Describe how the benefiting community will maintain this project after grant funding has been fully expended.

Oversight. The Gueoul Conseil D’administration (Board of Directors) provides financial and project management. This Conseil was seated specifically to provide this oversight. It is composed of nine members, including all Guéoul school directors and key community leaders.

Sustainability A classroom is inherently not income producing and is available only to students. The classroom has been situated in the center of the town. Affordable computer access will be provided to the entire community 7 days a week and about 12 hours a day. Classes will be taught year-round because the classroom is in a public place and not limited to the school year or school hours. There will be classes for adults. The income will provide a source of income to replace worn out equipment, to maintain the room, and to pay an employee to maintain and supervise. The classroom opened May 7, 2009, with a supervisor and a computer teacher. The income from the first two weeks is enough to pay for one of the employee’s salary for one month, a promising indicator of the coming financial success and sustainability.

Describe specific activities of the host and international partners in implementing the project. What will the Rotarians who are members of the partner clubs do during the project? Please note that financial support is not considered active involvement. (See the Matching Grant application instructions for suggestions.)

This project’s new approach has received the enthusiastic approval of key organizations intimately familiar with the Senegalese culture. This project is a collaboration among the following:
1) The International Partner (Englewood Rotary Club, Colorado), in collaboration with Friends of Gueoul, is creating the seed project: donation of 24 laptop computers, scanners and printers; establishment of a classroom; creation of a Conseil d’administration (Board of Directors) of Gueoul community and school leaders; hiring of consultants; creation of publicity.
2) Members of several Rotary clubs of District 5450 (Denver Region) have become involved with these activities and will continue to be involved. The author of this application has been to Guéoul, Senegal four times since 2003. She now goes annually to create, manage and spearhead this project and to assure accountability and sustainability.

3) The International Partner will spearhead a drive in Denver, Colorado for donation of used and refurbished computers and supporting equipment to be shipped to Gueoul. It is anticipated that the container will arrive in early 2010.
4) The Host Partner (St. Louis Rotary in Senegal) has met with the Conseil d’administration (described above) in Guéoul. They participated in the interview and hiring decision of the supervisor. They make periodic visits to provide leadership and oversight in grant fund disbursement and accounting, in maintenance of classroom, in hiring and training of appropriate employees, in development of sound business practices.
5) A Peace Corps Volunteer stationed in a nearby town is assigned to the project in an advisory capacity, and the Associate Peace Corps Country director and others are providing orientation and training to the Volunteer. The Volunteer is in Small Enterprise Development (SED) and, in addition, has a great interest in using computers and the internet as a teaching tool. The Peace Corps’ Small Enterprise Development expert in Senegal confirms that the project is culturally appropriate, and he enthusiastically approved this new approach as being soundly envisioned. Because a Volunteer is involved, the initial computers (laptops) are being sent via Peace Corps Senegal by embassy pouch, which avoids theft of small shipments. The Associate Peace Corps Director likes this project so much that he is considering placing another SED Volunteer in Gueoul itself at the end of the first Volunteer’s tour.

6) World Vision (Vision Mondial), one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Senegal, has agreed to be available for consultation and collaboration, especially in management of the container shipment as it arrives in country.
c) To teachers and school administrators, to enhance their access to information and to give them tools to strengthen their skills
d) To health care workers, to enhance their access to information and to give them tools to strengthen their skills
e) To all the people of the community, to enhance their access to information and to give them tools to strengthen their skills. This includes farmers, re-forestation workers, small business entrepreneurs, etc.