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Still need over $200 USD just to buy new chargers for our kids (we're ordering 75). This doesn't take the power strips into account. Please donate so we can afford them!!
Thank you!!!!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Now what?
Things are at a hiatus, as usual. My contact at AICEP isn't turning out to be as determined to help me during his busy schedule as I would hope.
I talked with Professor Nélys today. It seems he has talked to both the Embassy of Taiwan and the Ministry of Education. Both said they would follow up with him, and both didn't. The Ministry does not believe that the Embassy will cover costs. For some reason, no matter how much the teachers tell them that it won't happen, they think that they are going to have to end up paying something.
While I think about how we're going to re-approach the subject (and if another trip to São Tomé, and another very annoying fundraiser-- not for me but for my friends and family-- is in order), I've sent Nélys on some research. He's going to find out how many students graduated to high school last year, and how that compares to the computer class, to see if there was a noticeable difference. As the school year this year will be ending in a couple of months, we'll have some hard data about two years of school that I am hoping will point to something.
If not, at least we tried.
Fingers crossed.
PS I met a lovely woman at the recent fundraiser at Hillyer in DC who works for IDB, who was interested in pursuing accountability a bit further with me. I never got her contact information but she assured me she would reach out to me after I gave her my card. If you're out there, I'm eagerly waiting to talk to you!
I talked with Professor Nélys today. It seems he has talked to both the Embassy of Taiwan and the Ministry of Education. Both said they would follow up with him, and both didn't. The Ministry does not believe that the Embassy will cover costs. For some reason, no matter how much the teachers tell them that it won't happen, they think that they are going to have to end up paying something.
While I think about how we're going to re-approach the subject (and if another trip to São Tomé, and another very annoying fundraiser-- not for me but for my friends and family-- is in order), I've sent Nélys on some research. He's going to find out how many students graduated to high school last year, and how that compares to the computer class, to see if there was a noticeable difference. As the school year this year will be ending in a couple of months, we'll have some hard data about two years of school that I am hoping will point to something.
If not, at least we tried.
Fingers crossed.
PS I met a lovely woman at the recent fundraiser at Hillyer in DC who works for IDB, who was interested in pursuing accountability a bit further with me. I never got her contact information but she assured me she would reach out to me after I gave her my card. If you're out there, I'm eagerly waiting to talk to you!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Bureaucratics Build
Still trying to get in touch with the Magalhães people OR the Taiwanese Embassy. It's a difficult ride, as per usual. Keep your fingers crossed (and please keep those donations coming in, we have about $555 of our $2,000 goal!)
THANKS!
THANKS!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Fundraiser Report: Thanks So Much!
Thanks to everyone who attended our fundraiser on Friday-- it was a hit and I was so happy to see so many great faces!
We successfully raised $280 in t-shirt and photography sales as well as a wine + chocolate tasting at the event.
We have also raised $275 in online t-shirt sales and donations so far...which brings us to $555 so far for our efforts!!
Thanks for all of the donations so far-- please keep purchasing t-shirts and sending donations so that we can raise the $2,000 we need for a new infrastructure in our laptop program!
Thank you so much!!
We successfully raised $280 in t-shirt and photography sales as well as a wine + chocolate tasting at the event.
We have also raised $275 in online t-shirt sales and donations so far...which brings us to $555 so far for our efforts!!
Thanks for all of the donations so far-- please keep purchasing t-shirts and sending donations so that we can raise the $2,000 we need for a new infrastructure in our laptop program!
Thank you so much!!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Buy! Buy! Buy!
T-Shirts are for sale. Click here to place an order! They cost $20 each plus shipping and handling. A steal when you realize that ALL proceeds benefit our program!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
They are Praying
Just had a great convo with Mirian today, one of the teachers at São João.
She told me that the computers have lots of problems -- maybe 17 of them are broken and they are trying to fix them (screen problems and keyboard issues), not including broken chargers and power strips -- but they are fighting to keep class going with everything they have.
I told her about our fundraiser next Thursday in Washington, DC and she was very excited to hear about it. She said that all of the teachers there will be praying that we make a lot of money for the program.
I've been thinking that we might need to train a local techie in São Tomé, as well as a coordinator. I think we could get away with training a techie $100 per month or something like that. The coordinator would probably need to make more, about $200 to $250 USD per month. An annual budget of $5,000 for these human resources is something we could potentially work with-- if not seeing if the Ministry of Education can provide.
A meeting next week with the Portuguese Trade and Investment Office is in the works. Lots of prayers to go around over the next week for a good turnout and good things to come from Beth driving all the way up the east coast to New York!
If you haven't spread the word yet, please come next week to the STEP UP OLPC fundraiser at the Hillyer Art Space off Dupont Circle in DC. It's on Thursday, Feb 24th at 6pm and it's free with a $5 suggested donation (and lots more suggested donations). We'll also be selling STEP UP OLPC t-shirts, photography done by the kids and we'll have some great music and food.
The Facebook event can be found at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197461426935361
Please come.
She told me that the computers have lots of problems -- maybe 17 of them are broken and they are trying to fix them (screen problems and keyboard issues), not including broken chargers and power strips -- but they are fighting to keep class going with everything they have.
I told her about our fundraiser next Thursday in Washington, DC and she was very excited to hear about it. She said that all of the teachers there will be praying that we make a lot of money for the program.
I've been thinking that we might need to train a local techie in São Tomé, as well as a coordinator. I think we could get away with training a techie $100 per month or something like that. The coordinator would probably need to make more, about $200 to $250 USD per month. An annual budget of $5,000 for these human resources is something we could potentially work with-- if not seeing if the Ministry of Education can provide.
A meeting next week with the Portuguese Trade and Investment Office is in the works. Lots of prayers to go around over the next week for a good turnout and good things to come from Beth driving all the way up the east coast to New York!
If you haven't spread the word yet, please come next week to the STEP UP OLPC fundraiser at the Hillyer Art Space off Dupont Circle in DC. It's on Thursday, Feb 24th at 6pm and it's free with a $5 suggested donation (and lots more suggested donations). We'll also be selling STEP UP OLPC t-shirts, photography done by the kids and we'll have some great music and food.
The Facebook event can be found at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197461426935361
Please come.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Get a shirt!!
Now accepting pre-orders for the coolest shirt you will ever receive!!
Only $20ea plus shipping.
Send me an email at beth@bethsantos.com with the number of shirts you would like, the sizes and your shipping address. Then we'll organize payment, likely through PayPal.
Only $20ea plus shipping.
Send me an email at beth@bethsantos.com with the number of shirts you would like, the sizes and your shipping address. Then we'll organize payment, likely through PayPal.
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