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Wood PCs For A Nepalese School
An Anonymous Coward writes: "The BBC runs a story about a Nepalese teacher who collects
old computer parts to set up the first computer-equipped school in
Nepal. They assemble the parts into wooden boxes! If you have old parts left, maybe you can donate something, too."
I'd suggest:
(1) Gathering your stuff to send
(2) Packing carefully
(3) Finding out how much shipping will cost
(4) Send that amount of money
Reports of my deaf have been greatly exaggerated.
The oeganization, Students For Change have been working on this problem.
Not only are they working on their computer skill,s but small-business skills as well. Although I'm not sure what they'd use SB skills for, being a tiny, isolated rural communtiy, but it might be a good idea.
I was really surprised: a lot of stupid jokes in comments. Probably you -- people who enjoy self-made wooden jokes about wooden cases -- do not unserstand what is really poor country. I'm Russian (thanks God I live in Finland now working for Nokia) and -- believe me -- 95% of people in Russia think that $100/month (one hundred dollars per month) is very good salary. Most of these people cannot hope to get even half of this. And I guess: Nepal isn't as rich as Russia :-) :-(
As long as they aren't using hardware thats too new, they should be fine. I've been running a computer in a styrofoam box for a few years now, and it hasn't toasted yet. It's only a 200mhz Pentium, but this guy is running 486's. They are going to be fine. Temperature in Nangi? sub freezing at night, but better during the day. I think I'd be more worried about the Monsoon winds that bring "78 inches of rain every year."
As for the legitimacy of the software, even if M$ cared about software piracy in the sub 'thousands and thousands of dollars' range (which, finacially speaking, they don't) I doubt they would be eager to be the corporate baddies who sued a small nepalese village. More likely you would see M$ step in and donate at least a couple office suites - maybe even a few computers. Of course, the publicity on this guy would have to be astronomical to blip bright enough on the M$ radar to warrant any attention.
Your
You know, I found it damn disappointing that I read all these comments and NOBODY had one single practical thing to say (unless I missed it) about helping this guy out. How many floppy drives do YOU have? How many old 486 parts? How many of you, like me, are sysadmins, and throw away or recycle buttloads of this stuff all the time? Shame on you! Talking about 'wow, that's a really good idea' when YOU'RE the people these kids need help from!!
Because I'm not slime, I've written to the BBC asking for more information about where and what WE (the rich US techies) could send to the Nepalese students. When I get more info I'll post it...but at least they'll be getting a shipment from *me*.
Hmph.
ST
Why make one when you can buy one???
A bit pricey, but they look nice.
(4) Send that amount of money
I suppose that will cover the cost of shipping for the new system? My $50 in shipping (cost per pound from US to Japan, rough memory, bad logic leap) will provide a box full of parts that can build or upgrade several computers. My $50 check won't get them a single motherboard, much less pay for it's shipping. My step 3 is to mail the box.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
What the person has done is commendable - that's without doubt, but there are REAL problems that the BBC story fails to give out. My self being from Nepal and working in similiar area, I think one of the major concern is not being able to use the available computer in Nepali or other local languages.
/.ers. For Nepal related information, www.nepalhomepage.com is the best resource.
I have seen computers being placed in many villages and school - which are ultimately monopolised by people who can understand English. The majority of students are required to understand english - before they can use computers, which is a problem. With the Unicode implementations of Devnagari (the Nepali Script), this may be possible - but can someone point out to any serious work that is being done.
Also, line-of-sight wireless would probably not be so useful as it's a hilly area. If it was remotely possible for the Telco to provide better telephone system (out of the many systems they use), they would do it - as it turns out to be chepaer for them.
I wouldn't worry about wooden casing, as it looks like it's open on one side, so that he can connect keyboard, mouse and monitors.
It is factually incorrect that it is the only school with comptuers for high school students. I know of at least two examples, one from the capital and one from a district in far western nepal.
If i get chance to visit these guys - i will report back to the
cheers
gaurab
This project looks interesting, and it reminded me of something I found looking through the LinuxFund project proprosals. The ganesha's project people are working on developing a school LAN using relatively old PCs and various free software. You can vote for the project to receive funding from the cool LinuxFund people at this link.
I can't help but wonder if some technical books might be even harder to get (and correspondingly useful as donations) than x486 class hardware components.
-emile
Emile Snyder
www.talentcodeworks.com