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