Hey everyone!
I know, I know..we have been terrible with updating the blog..but it's finally here, so enjoy!
After finalllly getting the right importer code, the laptops finally arrived! After spending a few hours getting the laptops ready, Aimee, Drew, Steph and I handed them out to the children at St. Mary's and at Holy Cross!
It looked like Christmas morning. The kids all sat patiently while they were handed their boxes, eagerly waiting to open them and see their very own XO laptop.
The kids opened them up, put in the batteries and turned them on. The kids got right into playing maze, listening to music and exploring all of the different activities.
Everyday at St. Mary's, I have taken small groups of children in the same age group into the computer room to work on the laptops. Each day, we have done different activities, such as, "take a picture of yourself, and cut and paste that into a write document and talk about yourself" or "draw your house and backyard with turtle art." The kids have shown strong interest in wanting to learn how to type properly, so "typing turtle" has been a big hit! These activities have been used for kids to mess around with the laptops, get used to different commands, but still have fun. Preparing for learning projects is necessary in the beginning!
The kids are finally getting a hang on the basic rules of the laptops, i.e., not having too many activities open at one time, what to do if the mouse freezes, or how to invite someone to chat. It has been both emotional and exciting to see the children help one another and watching their facial expressions when they figure out an activity, or have successfully cut and paste a picture into a writing document.
Many pictures to come to show the kids and the laptops!
'Til next time...
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Something has arrived...
Hey guess what… no laptops here in Grahamstown... but we’ve got swine flu!
(Don’t worry parents, they’re far away in quarantine out of town.) 4 students; 2 at a boarding highschool and 2 from Rhodes got it while at a sports tournament that international students attended.
Ohh.. globalisation.
(Don’t worry parents, they’re far away in quarantine out of town.) 4 students; 2 at a boarding highschool and 2 from Rhodes got it while at a sports tournament that international students attended.
Ohh.. globalisation.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
eXOcuse me?
Oh the frustration of customs and burea-crazy. The days are quickly passing by, and the 100 XO laptops are still stuck in Johannesburg customs. Even though these laptops are donations, customs has placed a monetary value on the laptops and it exceeds the ZAR20,000 limit. This is in spite of the fact that we are working with non-profits, but once again formalities and paperwork gets in the way of progress! Luckily, we have some XOs on hand; 8 in all from us team members and extras purchased, so we have been able to manage working with the children in small groups at a time.
It has worked so far because it is the primary school holidays; many children are away with family and so the afterschool is also closed. Kids have come in small groups, and we have been able to manage working with two people max on each XO. However, the holidays are coming to an end this week. We really need to get these laptops that have been stuck in customs for over a month!
Know anyone in Johannesburg customs? Help us out! :)
Aimee & Anna
It has worked so far because it is the primary school holidays; many children are away with family and so the afterschool is also closed. Kids have come in small groups, and we have been able to manage working with two people max on each XO. However, the holidays are coming to an end this week. We really need to get these laptops that have been stuck in customs for over a month!
Know anyone in Johannesburg customs? Help us out! :)
Aimee & Anna
Sunday, July 12, 2009
FESTastic!
Two years ago, we arrived in Grahamstown just days after this huge event called “Fest.” Little did we know, that the small town of Grahamstown was the venue for the National Arts Festival. A 10 day celebration of every category imaginable that could fall under Art, it is the largest festival in the continent and the second largest in the world (after the Edinburgh Fest). Luckily this time around, we were able to experience all of Fest and the transformation of the town itself. July 2-11.. they flew quickly
One of the volunteers at Holy Cross, Matt, wrote in to the Festival committee and requested free tickets for the kids. All of the children have grown up in Grahamstown, but have never had the opportunity to truly experience Fest. For most, if not all, it was their first ballet, rock concert, musical and dance show they had seen on a professional level.
Yup, that’s right, we had a very tough life: taking children from Holy Cross to a variety of art shows, stuffing ourselves with street food, bargain shopping at fairs and being surrounded by people and talent from all over the country and globe.
Enjoy these shots from the week!
Simphiwe Dana (the 'new' Miriam Makeba)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Off to the Holy Cross Monastery!
Driving up to the Holy Cross Monastery, I saw a rural side to Grahamstown that I had not fully been exposed to yet. The rolling hills that went on forever took my breath away and as we pulled up the Monastery, I immediately felt peace. The set-up was beautiful and I just felt comfortable there. The scenery was breath-taking and looked like it came from a painting. I met some of the Brothers, who were all extremely friendly and down to earth, excited for the XO program to ignite.
We met with approx. 9 of the older children and let them play with the XOs. Similar to the first day I was with the kids at St. Mary’s we had the kids go around, inside and out, taking pictures of whatever they wanted. The kids went off together exploring the land around the Monastery, taking pictures of the mountains and the various statues around the yard. The kids were excited and energetic. After, the kids picked their favourite one, were instructed how to cut and paste into word document and could write or paint whatever they wanted with the image they chose.
Our set up in one of the rooms
Thembalani and me, playing Maze
We met with approx. 9 of the older children and let them play with the XOs. Similar to the first day I was with the kids at St. Mary’s we had the kids go around, inside and out, taking pictures of whatever they wanted. The kids went off together exploring the land around the Monastery, taking pictures of the mountains and the various statues around the yard. The kids were excited and energetic. After, the kids picked their favourite one, were instructed how to cut and paste into word document and could write or paint whatever they wanted with the image they chose.
Our set up in one of the rooms
Thembalani and me, playing Maze
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
First Trip to St. Mary's
Still jet-lagged, I arrived at St. Mary’s for the first time since my last trip to South Africa almost 2 years ago. The kids came rushing in, excited to continue playing and learning on the XOs. Aimee and I quickly realized there was no way we could have an organized lesson plan off the bat because the kids were too eager just to play around. We knew this was important for the kids to play around first themselves and discover things individually, after sharing with friends and us as well! Luckily, with 2 of us helping out, there was more time to work with kids 1 on 1, instead of leaving poor Aimee to all 8!
Watching the kids fool around and help each other out, I found myself fighting back tears. The smiles on their faces showed their excitement, and I began feeling the power of this program and the endless possibilities the children can have with these laptops. Wiping away the few tears that dropped, I enjoyed walking around looking at the programs the children decided to open up first and how they did not hesitate to show Aimee, myself and their friends what they have accomplished. We let the children choose the programs they wanted to open and we were able to assist them, teaching them how to use the program, which they then could teach their fellow peers.
The best part of my day was when I realized Robyn, a 12 year old girl, using the chat function to type the exact same sentences to 2 boys, Lloyd and Jurihin. I immediately called her out on flirting with both of them, and it became a big joke and laugh for the rest of the day.
After the kids had about 30 minutes of free-time, we showed the kids how to take pictures using the XOs. They quickly caught on, and were given 10 minutes to walk around the room taking picture of whom and whatever they wanted. After picking their favourite picture, we went around explaining how to cut and paste the image into a word document so they would be able to write about what picture they had taken. The kids loved the independence and freedom of being able to decide what pictures to take, which to keep and what to write about. Without realizing, the kids were working on typing and important computer functions, such as cut and paste!
Watching the kids fool around and help each other out, I found myself fighting back tears. The smiles on their faces showed their excitement, and I began feeling the power of this program and the endless possibilities the children can have with these laptops. Wiping away the few tears that dropped, I enjoyed walking around looking at the programs the children decided to open up first and how they did not hesitate to show Aimee, myself and their friends what they have accomplished. We let the children choose the programs they wanted to open and we were able to assist them, teaching them how to use the program, which they then could teach their fellow peers.
The best part of my day was when I realized Robyn, a 12 year old girl, using the chat function to type the exact same sentences to 2 boys, Lloyd and Jurihin. I immediately called her out on flirting with both of them, and it became a big joke and laugh for the rest of the day.
After the kids had about 30 minutes of free-time, we showed the kids how to take pictures using the XOs. They quickly caught on, and were given 10 minutes to walk around the room taking picture of whom and whatever they wanted. After picking their favourite picture, we went around explaining how to cut and paste the image into a word document so they would be able to write about what picture they had taken. The kids loved the independence and freedom of being able to decide what pictures to take, which to keep and what to write about. Without realizing, the kids were working on typing and important computer functions, such as cut and paste!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
First day back home
We have a few visitors with us from the US joining us for a little. They’re a team from General Mills, very generous contributors and donors to OLPC and OLPCorps particularly. They came to see first-hand what OLPCorps will be doing, and we’re very grateful and blessed that we got to share our Grahamstown story and perspective with them!
It’s hard to believe I’m back here (I’m sorry if I don’t stop saying that this entire trip!). Too many emotions running through me right now but everything tremendous, to say the least. I got to visit St Mary’s the day after I got in, jumping right into things here. As the kids came streaming into the centre, it was just pure joy to get to see so many of the kids from a couple years back, and also a lot of new faces. I got lots of second looks from the kids, thinking they recognised a familiar face from somewhere. Sure enough, a bunch of them put the face together and ran over for hi’s and hugs. Some pulled me over to the wall at the back of the room where photos hang of past volunteers at St Mary’s – just double checking it was me :)
Highlight of the morning for me was when one girl threw her arms around me and said, “you remembered us!” Believe me, it took everything in me to stop from crying!
Oh boy, I can’t wait to get this project going!
It’s hard to believe I’m back here (I’m sorry if I don’t stop saying that this entire trip!). Too many emotions running through me right now but everything tremendous, to say the least. I got to visit St Mary’s the day after I got in, jumping right into things here. As the kids came streaming into the centre, it was just pure joy to get to see so many of the kids from a couple years back, and also a lot of new faces. I got lots of second looks from the kids, thinking they recognised a familiar face from somewhere. Sure enough, a bunch of them put the face together and ran over for hi’s and hugs. Some pulled me over to the wall at the back of the room where photos hang of past volunteers at St Mary’s – just double checking it was me :)
Highlight of the morning for me was when one girl threw her arms around me and said, “you remembered us!” Believe me, it took everything in me to stop from crying!
Oh boy, I can’t wait to get this project going!
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