Bringing Technology to Rural schools in Zimbabwe

Dear Friends,

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to you for your continued support of our Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) project. This project is at the heart of the Tekeshe Foundation and is our strategy for bridging the digital divide that exists between the rural and urban schools. The rural youth lag behind the rest of the world in technology. Urban youth are more likely to find employment unlike their rural counterparts who have no computer skills. This digital divide is disadvantaging a whole generation of children growing up in the rural areas.

 
Our focus in the initial phase of this project is to provide basic computer training to the teachers. Once the teachers have acquired the neccessary computer skills then we will focus on providing computer training to the students. Your donations make it possible for the Tekeshe Foundation to conduct computer training workshops for the teachers. To date the Tekeshe foundation has worked in collaboration with Mupinda of CzWS to conduct four ICT workshops at Rimbi High School.  The objective of these workshops is to provide the teachers basic computer skills which include word processing, spreadsheet processing and presentation package training. These workshops are having a positive impact. As you can see from the attached pictures the teachers are eager to learn.

WORKSHOP EVALUATION
The attendees expressed their heartfelt gratitude to you the donors for making it possible for them to acquire computer skills.They found the workshops very beneficial and they requested to have more training. Here is what one of the teachers had to say:

In His Own Words - By Lovemore
I am a teacher at Rimbi High School. I would like to thank the Tekeshe Foundation and the donors for initiating the Teachers’ Computer Programme.  I am benefitting so much through this programme since I was at ‘zero’ as far as Computer Literacy is concerned.  I was even shy to be associated with computers since I couldn’t even turn a computer on.  I am very thankful for Mr Mupinda, the instructor. He has taught us a lot within a short space of time.
Microsoft Word – I am now able to type any document and can insert any symbols I want with ease.  He also taught us Microsoft Excel which is a very useful tool in teaching.  The summation in particular was so interesting, using average and the copying of formulas was just magical!   We also did PowerPoint which is again very important in our day to day delivery of lessons.  I would like to thank you so much. Our wish is to see you sending Mr Mupinda to give us some more training which includes the Internet and email, etc. 

One major challenge we are experiencing is lack of computers since the school does not avail us maximum opportunity to this great device.  It is my wish that one day you will sponsor a computer to each of us,  your pioneer students. Thanks again. May God bless you, I salute you because you made me an up-to-date man.  

--Lovemore

Though this project is a big success one of the challenges is that the teachers have limited access to computers. They suggested that if they could find cheap laptops they are willing to work hard to raise $50 each towards the cost of purchasing a laptop. Having laptops will help them tremendously since they will be able to put into practice what they have learned. Based on this request, we made an arrangement with CsWS to provide us refurbished laptops at a discounted price of $220 per laptop. The teachers will pay $50.00 while the Tekeshe foundation covers the rest of the cost.  

Plans for 2014 - 2015
1. Provide internet access to both Rimbi High & Rimbi Primary schools. We are working with a company based in  Mutare, Zimbabwe called B-SAT Satellite Communications. B-SAT provides free equipment on all VSAT solutions for schools. We still need need to raise $2000 for the VSAT services. 
2. Provide computer training to 100 teachers by 2015
3. Provide computer training to 500 students by 2015

4. Provide laptops to 50 teachers by end of 2014

As you can see from the attached pictures and based on what one of the teachers had to say, this project is a big success. Through your donations you are playing a major role in tranforming the lives of rural teachers!

Thanks again for all your support bridging the digital divide.

Best Regards,

Thelma

Dear Friends,

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to you for your continued support of our Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) project. According to statistics, more than 2.5 billion people live in rural areas of developing countries where access to communication is severely limited.  Zimbabwe is no exception.  It has a population of over 12 million. More than 75% of the population of Zimbabwe lives in the rural areas. Unlike their urban counterparts, rural teachers, students, farmers, business owners, and health care providers work without access to technologies that can transform their lives and work in simple yet profound ways. This digital divide is disadvantaging a whole generation of children growing up in the rural areas.

Your donations make it possible for the Tekeshe Foundation to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban schools by providing rural teachers and students access to computer technology. Our goal in the initial phase of this project is to provide basic computer training to the teachers. Once the teachers have acquired the neccessary computer skills then we will focus on providing computer training to the students.

The ICT project is already having a positive impact. On September 27, 2013 we joined forces again with Mr. Justin Mupinda of CzWS to conduct our third ICT workshop at Rimbi High School. This was a three day hands on intensive computer training workshop. The first day of the workshop focused on computer basics. The next two days, the focus was on Microsoft Office applications, such as Microsoft Word and Excel. The workshop was a great success. As you can see in the pictures, the teachers were very eager to learn.  At the end of the workshop they had gained a better understanding of how to use a computer and their word processing skills were greatly enhanced as well.   Here is what one of the teachers said:

In her On Words, By One Of the Teachers
"One day I was trying to use Microsoft Word, but I didnt realize that after typing the text I had to save the document. I ended up losing all my work. After attending this workshop it became clear to me that after typing the document I had to click "Save" to save the document. This workshop really helped me understand how to use Microsoft Word"

Bringing ICT to rural schools in today's world which is technology driven will provide educational and economic opportunities, and ultimately improve the quality of life for rural teachers and students. The digital divide will be bridged resulting in new opportunities for students, teachers and the community as a whole.

Plans for 2013 - 2015
1. Provide internet access to both Rimbi High & Rimbi Primary schools. We are working with a company based in  Mutare, Zimbabwe called B-SAT Satellite Communications. B-SAT provides free equipment on all VSAT solutions for schools. We still need need to raise $2000 for the VSAT services. 
2. Provide computer training to 100 teachers by 2015
3. Provide computer training to 500 students by 2015

Thanks again for all your support!

Best Regards,

Thelma