Community High School students ship computers to Angola
Students at Community High School District 94 in West Chicago recently sent two laptop computers to Angola to open up the world to students in the war-torn nation.
The West Chicago students raised more than $800 in their advisory classes to purchase the special laptop computers from the One Laptop Per Child Program, which has a mission to empower children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child.
The computers are being taken to Angola by RISE International, a not-for-profit organization based in Winnetka. This group works with the Church in Angola to rebuild schools.
Lynn Cole, executive director of RISE, appreciates the efforts.
"We are so grateful for the laptop donation from Community High School. Our hope is to bring the laptops, allow those involved with the primary schools in Angola to get excited about the possibilities, to encourage them to move the project forward and inspire those that need to take steps within Angola to pursue acquisition of the laptops," Cole said..
"Once in place, the vision would be to see two or three computers in each school. These computers are made for the conditions of Angola's rural schools and could broaden the world of the students and allow them to learn and be empowered."
Community High School humanities teacher Barbara Laimins and her freshmen advisory team raised $200.
"My students realize the importance of having a computer to have access to information which will help citizenship and provide the Angolan students the skills to succeed in their education," Laimins said.
In the 2005-06 school year, students from the high school raised more than $10,000 to build a school in Sakutopi in partnership with RISE International. Since that time, Community High School has continued its relationship with RISE International and Angola to send school supplies, recreational and medical resources as a part of the WeGo 2 Africa project spearheaded by the Community Leadership class at the high school.
"The WeGo 2 Africa program has become part of the culture of Community High School, and has allowed the students to create a habit of the heart in which they realize the difference they can make in both their local and global community," said Mary Ellen Daneels, instructor of the community leadership class that organized the drive.
Students in the class individually volunteer locally at least 60 hours a semester at various not-for-profits in the area, including the local PADS shelter, after-school programs and World Relief.
As a class, they have taken on the global WeGo 2 Africa Project to fulfill the words of their mission statement: "help rebuild communities in Angola with educational resources to facilitate learning, living and leadership."
Lauren Hon, a junior in the community leadership class, said, "The students in Angola are so limited in their knowledge and connection to the outside world. We wanted to raise enough money to get them connected to information. It will be exciting to be able to talk to students in the school we funded in Sakutopi and build a better relationship with them."
The laptops are especially designed for the environmental and technological conditions of Third-World nations like Angola. They can be manually powered and can handle high heat, humidity and dust.
In addition to the laptops being sent to Angola, Community High School students are sending two more computers to students in other undeveloped countries through the One Laptop Per Child Program.
The community leadership class is raising money to send a shipping container full of school supplies, medical supplies, clothes, shoes and recreational equipment later this spring.
For details about the WeGo 2 Africa Program, contact Mary Ellen Daneels at mdaneels@d94.org or (630) 876-6453.
-- Gail Eckl Daniels