Kenya Project
Laare Computer Center in rural Kenya:
Laare Community Technology Centre, Kenya
The Laare Community Technology Centre in Kenya was founded by Eric Mibuari
'06, with the assistance of MIT's Public Service Center. The aim of this
community centre is to increase general computer awareness and literacy in the
Laare community by providing cheap, local and accessible training on the use of
computers. This is in an area of the country where nearly no one owns a
computer and very few people have ever seen one. At present the centre
particularly targets the youth with high school education and seeks to equip
them with basic computing skills that they can apply for personal use, in
industry and in education. The centre was started in January 2005 and has so
far offered various levels of training to three groups of more than seventy
students. The centre takes particular note of the economic difficulties of the
many people who would like to benefit from its training and facilities and
purposely strives to charge the minimal feasible fees.
More information about the project is available at
http://web.mit.edu/mibuari/www/library.html
Short Term Needs
Internet. Since its inception there?s has been no internet connectivity at the
centre. Being in a rural part of the country, 200 miles north of Nairobi,
acquiring internet connection from the major Internet Service Providers, is
expensive both at the installation stage and in paying monthly rates. A leased
line installation might cost as much as $1000 and monthly payments would be
around $300. The centre cannot afford this because it's currently not an
income generating venture. Dial up connectivity would be very unreliable
because of not only extremely slow speeds but a telephony infrastructure that
breaks down regularly. The centre would benefit a great deal from internet
connectivity because it would enable the students be exposed to internet
technologies (email, etc). There'll be broader array of knowledge sources
available to them this way. Internet connectivity will enable the instructors,
management and students at the centre communicate more reliably with the
outside world and this will enable them grow. It might also enable the centre
generate some income by charging a fee to outsiders i.e. function as a "cyber
cafe" during off hours. We are currently brainstorming on various options
that might enable the centre acquire an internet connection and would welcome
other ideas. We are looking at VSAT connectivity and the leased line option.
Sustainability
The long term future of the centre lies in its ability to offer good quality
computer training to successive groups of members of the community at an
affordable fee. This will not be possible if the centre continues to rely on
outside help. There's a need for the centre to generate its own money so that
it can pay the instructors, maintain the machines and simple infrastructure and
conduct an effective way of recruiting students and delivering the skills they
need. We are therefore, looking at possibilities such as providing the centre
with a printer so they can do some commercial printing for members of the
public. There are also plans to hold a management seminar for the oversight
council over IAP of next year. This seminar will focus on areas of
communication, collaboration with universities in Kenya and ways of increasing
the outreach and capacity for the centre.
--
MarkPearrow - 17 Oct 2005
