Impact Report
After volunteering in the school, another volunteer and I raised funds to build a junior school room and my friend built a community library and she got electricity connected so I raised funds for 1,000 books which are yet to be received and 3 computers.
I noticed that computer literacy was being taught only using a black board, with no text books or computers. Now the school have computers to use within the library they will have first hand experience of what they are learning in the class room. The deputy head teacher from another nearby school also asked if he could use the computer for help with his school records so the whole community can now benefit as well as the school.
Having access to computers means they can put into practice what they are learning from the blackboard and having a realistic idea of handling a computer. The enthusiasm from the students has been amazing. As we now have middle school room for students age 14 years they are finding the hands on use of a computer particularly useful. It has made the job of teaching IT much easier to see and use a as it brings blackboard learning into perspective.
The use of the keyboard and basic operation of the keys and familiarization of computer technology has been the most useful. We have electricity but no internet at the moment, however when we do it will be very useful to help plan lessons and gain subject knowledge, but for now to familiarize using the keyboard and to learn touch typing has been a learning curve for us. Going forward we look forward to use the internet to further expand our knowledge for both teachers and students.
It has been difficult for the whole community to access the computers as they are locked in the library and at the moment it is only open during school hours. That said there are meeting to be arranged to see if a caretaker/keyholder from the community can open the library at weekends.
Prior to receiving computers from Books2Africa, there was no where in the area that had books and computers. In Accra several hours away there is an internet cafe, however very few if any people go into Accra due to the transport costs.