Phase 1 Update

One of the most important aspects of this project is raising funds to make it happen.  We would like to thank Friends of Lesotho for their generous support.  Also, the Panhuise Foundation has been a major benefactor and we thank them for their continued support.  Many individuals have donated various amounts and large or small, they all add up to helping us complete this project.  We now are in the process of drawing up building plans and obtaining bids and signed contracts.  We still need to raise funds for tablets, library books, and supplies.  If you would like to contribute to the success of this project please check out our gofundme page.

Exciting new development

L2L is beginning a completely new phase of educational support at Kokobe Primary School.  Through a collaboration with Arizona State University, we will be bringing “education in a box” to the students.  The XO Laptops currently used will be phased out and replaced with the Kindle Fire.  Students will be able to access the SolarSPELL Educational Library. The SolarSPELL is a rugged, portable, solar-powered digitized library which includes an offline digital hotspot, designed to simulate an online experience.  Currently, more than 275 SPELL libraries have been deployed across the Pacific and East Africa.  The content can be specific to the area and offer many resources for teachers and students.

The school has little space for a dedicated computer lab and the principal requested our help in building a dedicated computer classroom and library. That will be phase 1 of the project.  The computer lab will have a solar-powered electrical system to charge computer hardware.  

“SolarSPELL’s mission is to provide relevant, localized educational content to resource-constrained locations around the world.”  To Learn more about SolarSPELL visit solarspell.org.

Lesotho Teachers on Strike

The strike has been going on for a month now with no end in sight, according to this article:

http://lestimes.com/teachers-vow-to-fight-education-bill/

 

This article gives more details about the teachers’ grievances and demands:

https://maserumetro.com/news/teachers-unions-petition-lesotho-parliament/

New Lessons for XO Laptops

New math lessons created in the program Scratch are now available to students at Kokobe.  Perseverance is the key to success.  Our on the ground person in Maseru, Florence, received the lessons and an internet café person was going to help her download the lessons onto flash drives.  After a number of failed attempts Florence was able to find the right person to help her.  Hence – new math lessons for students at Kokobe.

Back in Action

After a short hiatus, Laptops to Lesotho is working again to provide educational opportunities to rural Lesotho.  What is in the works for L2L?

Janissa has been busy creating lessons to be used with the XO laptops.  Most lessons have been created in a program  called Scratch.  Volunteers are always needed to help with creating these lessons.  Our contact in Lesotho, Florence, will be purchasing flash drives to download the lessons to, and make them available for the XO laptops.

In Kokobe, Florence will provide the flash drives with the lessons and provide a refresher on uploading the lessons to the computers.  She will also check on the solar panel wiring and laptops that need repairs. In addition, she will provide the funds for repairs, inspect winter damage, view and support teachers giving classroom lessons with the laptops, and coordinate the dates for the next training session.

Currently Janissa and a new volunteer, Bill Savage, are planning on going to Lesotho for the next intensive training for teachers and students.  More volunteers would be welcome with the understanding that they would need to pay their own way. If you have some computer and teaching skills, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience the wonderful people and culture of Lesotho.

Janissa has found a wonderful source for laptops and parts.  The source is in the process of testing and refurbishing the laptops and batteries.  These are needed as laptops wear out or need repair.

We will provide updates as Laptops to Lesotho goes back into action.

L2L To Temporarily Suspend Operations

Providing Laptops to remote locations in Southern Africa comes with its challenges.  Hardware constraints, reliable on the ground support, and changing leadership requires Laptops to Lesotho to temporarily suspend operations.  The board unanimously agreed that resuming operation in the future will occur, but the timing is uncertain.  Please check back with us in the future and learn about the positive changes to Laptops to Lesotho.

Lesotho: What's behind the political unrest

BBC News