Powering Potential for Zambian Schools
Category : Training
We’re busy getting ready for a second physical computing conference- this time in Kafue. Following their successful event in May, Macloud, Farai and Francis will lead demonstrations on using the Raspberry Pi Pico to introduce pupils to coding and physical computing.
Delegates will learn to control traffic lights, buzzers and switches.
Category : News
Help us continue to make an impact. Select us as your favourite charity and we could receive up to £20,000 in matched funding with PayPal Giving Fund through Give at Checkout via PayPal.
Visit https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/setfavorite-charity and search for Giakonda Solar Schools and select us as your favourite.
On 29th May our Zambian partner teachers held a conference at Siavonga Teachers’ Resource Centre. Thanks so much to presenters Farai, Macloud and Francis and to Bridget for all your help with organising the event.
After a morning of demonstrations of physical computing, the attending teachers were able to have hands on experience in a series of workshops. It was a very successful event which we hope to repeat again in other districts in Zambia.
Category : News
Category : Training
Our trustee, Howard has been heavily involved in making the learning resources of RACHEL (Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning) accessible from a Raspberry Pi server. He was delighted to receive this endorsement from one of the developers at World Possible.
Everyone has appreciated the time you’ve spent on the forums helping others and sharing your advice. It has really helped bring a sense of community to RACHEL.
6 years ago I discovered the RACHEL project and decided to try bringing back support for the Raspberry Pi. I had just gone through a period of surgeries for vision loss and was unable to work due to complications. There were times where I didn’t want to continue, but you worked with me, encouraged me, and knowing that you and Giakonda were taking it into the world to be used motivated me to keep working on it. That ultimately lead to RACHEL-Pi being used globally and to me being hired by World Possible which has in turn changed many lives, including my own.
I want to say thank you for the all of the support over the years. Though we have never met, I have always been very proud to be a small part of the great things you have done for so many people.. .Please let your wife Wendy know that I am always available and would be honored to continue supporting Giakonda Solar Schools.
All the best,
James Kainer
Category : News
Sometimes our efforts at improving the educational chances of Zambian children have even more impact than first expected. The following are quotes from MUnyama School.
“Munyama primary school has for many years been operating without power to run electrical equipments/gadgets or enough to have lights in the classrooms for the pupils. Until MARCH 2018, when GIAKONDA helped the school by providing a solar system that eradicated many challenges the school used face when it used to operate completely without power. Currently the pupils are able to study in the night without any problems, the teachers are equally able do their work in the night due the availability of power and good cool weather.
In additional, the computer studies department received a heavy boost from GIAKONDA through the donation of Lifebook laptop computers which improved the computer to pupil ratio. This gesture eased the learning and teaching of computer studies especially the practical part. Teachers are equally able to type their work freely without congesting the computer which were not in the school at the time.
Further the RACHEL has also been a very good resource for both the teachers and the pupils as they are able to research additional material in line with their work.
Additionally, it has also improved the school community partnership and rapport. Many parents visit the school to acquit themselves with internet services.
The one other positive story is that, two male parents after taking interest in computer studies, did register for the grade nine examinations and progressed to grade ten. We take these as the GIAKONDA first fruits.
Lastly but not the least, the recent training on learning to learn program has played a fundamental role in the improvement of girl child enrolment and also making the lesson interesting to the pupils and the teachers themselves as they enjoyed learning while playing.
The training has equipped teachers with learner friendly methodologies
Category : News
Yesterday the Computer Science Teachers Association Zambia (COSTAZ) held a conference at ST Vincent de Paul School in Monze. One of the items on the agenda was the setting up of Code Clubs in Schools.
Over the last couple of years, Howard has been training a small group of teachers to run code clubs to teach programming and physical computing. Macloud from Kabuyu andIT technician Bridget, were invited to address the delegates about this. There was a great deal of interest and we hope that more code clubs will be rolled out soon. Thanks to Francis from St Vincent’s for arranging this.
