One Laptop Per Child

[Xipe Totec]

Mission Statement:

To create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. When children have access to this type of tool they get engaged in their own education. They learn, share, create, and collaborate.

http://laptop.org/en/vision/index.shtml

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. As long as they have good food, health, clothing and shelter

education is the next thing

[SoCalDem]

3. I participated in their program last year.. Bought one, gave one

Total cost $423.00..I got one (still unopened), and one was donated in my name..and we got a $200 tax deduction..

[Xipe Totec]

4. Awesome!

:applause:

[JJ]

6. want to sell the unopened one?

My kids could use a laptop.

[SoCalDem]

8. Truthfully, I don't know where I put it..

I was originally thinking of putting it on ebay, but I am a procrastinator .. Or maybe saving it until we eventually have grandkids..

They really don't "do" much except as a word processor, music maker & internet.. You cannot load software into them..

You could probably find a great used laptop for your kids..and quite cheap too.. A friend of mine got a Toshiba very much like mine..wireless & everything for only $300..
I'll see him on Tuesday & will ask where he got it..

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Tech Restore

http://techrestore.com/

I have bought 3 laptops from them. I highly recommend this company.

[SoCalDem]

14. help... I couldn't locate the link where you can BUY stuff there

every link I clicked just showed pictures of how to restore/fix one you already have :(

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. On the lower right, it says "SHOP"

and there is a pull down menu.

[JJ]

12. Actually I was more interested in the educational software

and the "ruggedness" of those.

I have a teenager with an old laptop (bought off of craigslist) that I've had to put 3 hard-drives in. I'd hate to see what the 3rd grader would do to a regular laptop.

[OhioChick]

2. While I think that this is a wonderful idea...

I also tend to think that the "world's poorest children" likely need adequate food and shelter, first.

[margotb822]

5. Yea, I am along those same lines, too

The internet isn't going to do a starving, homeless child who's afraid of being killed, raped, or recruited into war, a whole lot of good.

[IndyOp]

19. Zimi's Story...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/olpc/3030865979/

"My name is Zimi.
I am 7 years old.
I came from a place you've never heard of,
a country that you can not pronounce,
a continent you would rather forget.

Our only problem is access to education,
with education we will solve our own problems.

To the person who gave me this XO laptop;
thank you.
You have changed my world."

----------

and see: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4469675&mesg_id=4469778

[margotb822]

22. I don't disagree with this program, but

there are so many people who have much greater concerns than access to education. And, even in America we have children who would benefit from this laptop program, so the problems aren't always so distant. I just think that we can't put the cart before the horse and giving a laptop to a child whose basic needs aren't met is not a good idea.

[Xipe Totec]

7. It's hard to argue with your point

You're right, of course, without adequate food and shelter, education is pointless.


But think of the potential; think how much human genius goes to waste, because a bright mind is born to a poor family, and never gets the opportunity to exploit that genius.

If even one child turns out to be the next Einstein, the whole project will have been worth it.

[OhioChick]

20. Oh, I agree with you, as well.

Education should not be a priviledge, but a right.

However, what comes to mind is Darfur. They need so much more than a laptop.

[IndyOp]

10. The kids take the laptops home and teach their parents how to read, how to use

the computer, and how to access information on the internet.

Kids in India who were left just one computer with internet access taught themselves how to use the computer, how to surf the net and they taught themselves a lot of English and a lot about what is happening in the larger world.

One Laptop Per Child is an incredibly powerful program to promote social justice -- kids, teens and adults will exchange information about environmental abuses and food shortages and violence on these laptops, and they will also be able to effectively network in order to demand their governments respond to their needs. This is more than just improving education, it is a world revolution.

I've been watching this for a few years now and every time I go back to the site to see what is happening I am encouraged.

One Laptop Per Child - Two Years On (Dec 2007)
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/nicholas_negroponte_on_one_laptop_per_child_two_years_on.html

Nicholas Negroponte on the vision (Feb 2006)
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/nicholas_negroponte_on_one_laptop_per_child.html

[Juche]

17. Same here

I've been following it off & on since it was announced. Connecting the world's poor to the internet will accomplish so much in pretty much every area, everything from democratization to agriculture will see a boost.

Countries like India and S. Korea claim they can make either a laptop or a thin client for $10-70.


http://education.zdnet.com/?p=535

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9716044-7.html

[Juche]

13. Internet access will make food & shelter more attainable

If we can connect the poorest people on earth to the internet then they can research what crops to grow, better ways to grow crops, more efficient ways to live, research info on how disease is spread, etc.

A $100 payment for a device that'll hook people up to the internet and improve productivity and efficiency for 5-10 years is a bargain.

[IndyOp]

18. Zimi's Story...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/olpc/3030865979/

"My name is Zimi.
I am 7 years old.
I came from a place you've never heard of,
a country that you can not pronounce,
a continent you would rather forget.

Our only problem is access to education,
with education we will solve our own problems.

To the person who gave me this XO laptop;
thank you.
You have changed my world."

[Xipe Totec]

21. I wish I could recommend your post!

:applause:

[Demobrat]

11. This is a good idea, but

one laptop per child? Whatever happened to sharing? One laptop per family would go much further, I would think.

[SoCalDem]

15. It IS per family....via the child

the child takes the laptop home with him/her

there are pictures at the website that show family involvement