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Computer Bootcamp in Majimboni

Written by Drighid Smyth

Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Over 70 pupils of The Stephen Kanga School in Majimboni attended a Computer Bootcamp over Christmas and the New Year. In addition, 10 teachers and 10 members of the local community took part in the programme. For many participants it was their first time to see and use a computer. The programme was led by Catherine Kiely, Tony and Carmel Cummins all who had been to Kenya in September 2009 and participated in a “life Project “ with Camp Kenya . During their stay in September 2009 they identified an opportunity to teach some of the children, their teachers and members of the local community some basic computer skills. However with only one laptop with them and a very receptive and enthusiastic audience; Cathy, Carmel and Tony knew that this was something which could be done on a larger scale and would be most beneficial to Majimboni.

On their return to Ireland they knew they would like to return to Kenya and to continue this work on a bigger scale and set about organising the logistics of doing this. With the assistance of Carol Macarthur from USA a previous participant in a Camp Kenya Programme, 11 laptop computers were transported from Ireland and brought to Kenya for what became known as the “Majimboni Computer Boot Camp”. Two other Irish Women travelled with them, Deirdre Counihan and Brighid Smyth, both from Dublin to assist in teaching.

Arriving in Majimboni, after an eventful trip including long delays due to cancelled flights and inclement weather conditions, computers and staff arrived safely and classes commenced on the 23rd December 2009 .

PHOTO COURTESY Cathy Kiely

In all nearly 100 people from the local community participated in classes over the Christmas and New Year period. All attending the classes had an opportunity to learn Microsoft Word, Excel and a basic introduction to the internet. Cathy also led an advanced class in Computers where she assisted those who were taking school exams in computer studies. Classes commenced at 9am each day and finished at 1pm .

Pupils were divided into beginners, intermediate and advanced and each classroom had three to four computers. In all there were six classes a day and everyone participating in the class had the opportunity to use the computer themselves. For many this was their first time to see and use a computer. Each evening the team prepared exercises for their classes. Because the ratio of teachers to pupils was high, everyone who attended the camp got hands on experience but also got the help they needed regardless of their skill level.

The project was not without its challenges given the location of the school in the Shimba Hills where access to power is limited and wireless technology difficult to connect and slow. Thanks to Camp Kenya where the team based themselves for the duration of the project who provided the use of the generator to power the laptops every evening. Without this it would have been impossible to power the computers for class the next day.

Battery power in the computers lasted 4 hours max so it was vital that they were fully powered every evening.

The team would also like to thank the staff of Mukuramuji Camp who gave us so much help and kept us well fed and watered for the time we were there.

Commenting on the success of the project Cathy Kiely said “We are absolutely delighted with the success of this project and were are putting processes in place to ensure that the work that we have started continues here after we are gone. It is very rewarding to see members of the community, teachers from the local school, and local children all working together to try and improve their computer skills.

It is particularly pleasing to see a member of the local community type up a lease for some land he has to rent, many of the pupils typing up their CV’s and the teachers already passing on the knowledge they have acquired to the beginners classes at the end of the three week period.

A committee comprising members of the local community, the school and local leaders has been established to look after the computers when we leave.

We will keep in touch with this committee and assist where we can. Ultimately, our goal is that the community manage this resource themselves.

This article was first published in Coastweek .

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