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Jeremy Schwartz
Mar 3, 2015, 8:47:32 PM3/3/15
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GUATEMALA THREAD
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jeremy Schwartz <jer...@worldpossible.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 5:45 PM
Subject: Re: Guatemala Education
To: JefforMarcia Harris <j_mh...@msn.com>, Pauline Paquin <tdmpa...@gmail.com>
Cc: Chari Miller <charj...@gmail.com>, Joan Fuetsch <jo...@worldpossible.org>, Gordon Hamm <gor...@3js.com>, Michael Ewans <theripple...@gmail.com>, Israel Quic <isr...@worldpossible.org>, Mel Smith <jm...@comcast.net>, Tom Borgan <orc...@msn.com>, Bob HuppeMaggie Lewis <huppe...@comcast.net>
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From: Jeremy Schwartz <jer...@worldpossible.org>
Date: Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 5:45 PM
Subject: Re: Guatemala Education
To: JefforMarcia Harris <j_mh...@msn.com>, Pauline Paquin <tdmpa...@gmail.com>
Cc: Chari Miller <charj...@gmail.com>, Joan Fuetsch <jo...@worldpossible.org>, Gordon Hamm <gor...@3js.com>, Michael Ewans <theripple...@gmail.com>, Israel Quic <isr...@worldpossible.org>, Mel Smith <jm...@comcast.net>, Tom Borgan <orc...@msn.com>, Bob HuppeMaggie Lewis <huppe...@comcast.net>
Hi All,
I'm adding Pauline to this as well. She heads to Guatemala next week and might benefit from some of the discussion there.
I'm adding Pauline to this as well. She heads to Guatemala next week and might benefit from some of the discussion there.
Jeff - I can put together a little doc for you on my recommendations for all that you listed, I'm just a little slammed these next two weeks (fundraising season for us).
Pauline - these folks are actively pursuing Guatemala RACHEL projects right now, maybe you can tell the group a little about your work there?
Joan - can we get Pauline in touch with Israel perhaps? Sounds like they tried to connect last year, but were unsuccessful. I doubt Israel follows this thread given the english heavy discussion :).
Best,
Jeremy
Jeremy
On Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 6:12 AM, JefforMarcia Harris <j_mh...@msn.com> wrote:
To All of You!
We are gratified and astounded at your thoughtful and insightful input. Please forgive my errors and omissions as I am new to Raspberry Pi, Rachel and Guatemala - as well as the Gig Harbor Rotary International Committee.
Our objective is to make the most cost effective purchases that will provide the best possible assistance to teachers and students. After giving some thought to your comments and suggestions, I believe what will help Michael Ewen, the Gig Harbor Rotary International Committee, prospective donors and mostly myself is a description and pictures, if available of how that equipment will be used.
Additionally, your specific suggestions on purchase, sources, care, use, shipping, training as well as any pitfalls that you have learned that will help us make this effort as successful as possible.
Thank you for all your advice and suggestions and for the success you have achieved. We are hopeful that our effort will add to that record.
Jeff and Marcia Harris
253-884-4697
Subject: Re: Guatemala Trip
From: charj...@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2015 16:51:50 -0800
CC: jo...@worldpossible.org; gor...@3js.com; j_mh...@msn.com; theripple...@gmail.com; isr...@worldpossible.org; jm...@comcast.net; orc...@msn.com; huppe...@comcast.net
To: jer...@worldpossible.orgAlso adding Bob Huppe as he leads a group at a HS that has done numerous trips setting up computer labs in Guatemala. He might have found a local supplier in Guatemala of computers.There are also many students that have the skills to refurbish and build computers. It would definitely be a benefit to assist them in keeping the labs going after setup.Additionally, the last school we were in had a computer lab donated by a local energy company. We added Rachel to that lab. Even the schools that have internet usually are restricted to one computer at a time.Israel was phenomenal at showing this school the possibilities of Rachel. The teachers, directors and community is very excited.I had brought a few tablets along with my 20 refurbished dual core laptops with Office. I agree that Office is a necessary skill for the job market there. We bring laptops simply because we can bring them in our carryons. The schools we have been to have no issues with electricity so laptops or desktops are great. They did not want the tablets since they feel the kids would treat them more like toys, plus they are much easier to steal. We even had laptops stolen from a school we did 3 years ago, theft is a big problem.However, I do think Bob Cairns practice of supplying a base Rachel kit with a tablet to different school administrators would be very beneficial. Giving teachers the opportunity to actually work with the material before trying to get a full lab would be nice. They could contact Israel, Joan or Jeremy and one of our groups could help get funds or donations to get a lab together.My group will need s school for the summer of 2016.
Sent from my iPhoneHi team -I also wanted to add Gordon Hamm to this. We met over the weekend, but he's a frequent Guatemala visitor and now (hopefully) RACHEL advocate. He does a bit of work there now in solar power in extremely rural communities and may have some thoughts to add.In addition to Chromebooks, I really like recommending the new "microsoft certified" budget windows laptops. They share chromebook specs but allow for Windows, which remains a huge advantage in most developing world job markets. Here's my favorite: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/ASUS-X205TA-UH01-BK-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.308794000Best,
JeremyOn Mon, Mar 2, 2015 at 12:48 PM, Joan Fuetsch <jo...@worldpossible.org> wrote:Wow. I am impressed that you traveled all that way on chicken buses. Makes me nauseous to think about it. Next time come when I am in town and I will give you a ride. Yes, there is lots of be done. My first thought (which I have already expressed to Char) is that you consider Chromebooks. They can be purchased new for less than refurbished laptops and have a much longer battery life and fewer maintenance issues. As they have no moving parts they are not impacted by heat nor humidity. And they are smaller and lighter to schlep. They also have keyboards which tablets do not and the kids need to learn the keyboard.Much work has been done by Israel and team with local foundations, even the Ministry of Education and there are now technology guides for teachers and soon videos to show teachers how to use the technology. Key is having a motivated teacher. There is simply no point in telling a teacher that he or she needs to use RACHEL. It simply won't work unless there is interest.Soon we hope to have the Guatemalan National Curriculum (cnb.com) included in RACHEL. As it is now probably 80% of the schools in the country cannot access the curriculum (which supposedly is quite good) for lack of internet access.Keep up the good work and let me know how I can help.Best regards, Joan___________________________________________________Joan FuetschRegional Director, Latin AmericaOffice: +1.415.535.2138Mobile: +502.3004.8923World Possible is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization--On Sun, Mar 1, 2015 at 8:06 AM, JefforMarcia Harris <j_mh...@msn.com> wrote:Michael, Jeremy, Joan, Isreal and Chari and Mel Smith and Tom Borgan
Greetings and Hola!
The attached is what I sent to our list - so far $1500!
Regarding the pricing - as soon as I complete taxes (remember?) today I will start on getting the pricing alternatives together. The GH Rotary International Committee really likes the project.
Please provide the numbers you are talking about as well as any plans for Isreal Quic and the Rachel meeting he plans in Chajul or wherever.
A question I have is are you thinking the small tablets or refurbished laptops with wifi ability? I believe Chari Miller and Joan Fuetsch will have recommendations on this issue.
Also, have you looked at the Rachel program modules - your evaluation?
I am pleased about the reaction - the Bob Cairns from the Pt. Orchard Rotary who presented at the GH club 1/2/15 will be happy as well as the folks at www.WorldPossible.org.
I am asking for input and recommendations from all the players in Rachel including Joan Fuetsch, Chari Miller, Isreal Quic and the Director Jeremy. They all have been very helpful to me and are the most knowledgeable as well as Tom Borgan (GH Rotary president in 2016/17) and Mel Smith (Chair of the GH Rotary International Committee).______________
Friends, (of Jeff and Marcia Harris - Gig Harbor Rotary- sent 2/26/15 - First email about the trip and asking donations went out on 1/28/15)
As promised in my email of January 28, this is the first of my updates on our trip to Guatemala to view projects previously funded in part by the Gig Harbor Rotary; and to look at potential future projects.
We returned on Monday February 9 instead of Sunday the 8th due to the El Fuego volcano eruption. While I am still processing what I experienced and saw, I do have some observations.We spent only a few hours in Guatemala City and then headed north to Lake Atitlan where we stayed 2 nights and visited several projects dealing primarily with education. The lake area is home to a number of Americans and wealthy Guatemalans. We watched the Super Bowl in a local restaurant – it hurt just as much as there!
We traveled to the western highland cities visiting the communities of Chel, Nebaj, Chajul, Los Encuentros and Sotzil some 12 hours north of Lake Atitlan by Chicken Buses (recycled American school buses). Projects visited included: water, vegetable gardens and sewer projects previously funded and several potential projects in addition to a new effort directed to improving education.
The Maya are a most resilient people. In many ways they are similar to the Inca people of Peru with whom I sometimes worked in the Peace Corps. Clearly, wealth is relative; meaning if your entire village lives like you with no running water, a very meager diet, dirt floors, almost none or no electricity, cooking with wood fires in a room that serves multiple purposes, no vehicle, limited education for your children, no medical or other public services and no opportunity to own enough land to grow either a cash crop or an adequate supply of nutritious food then ones happiness comes from friends, family and most of all your children.
As bleak as that assessment is, progress is being made. There are many American, Canadian and other nation’s non-profits working on priority issues. The Gig Harbor Rotary has chosen to focus on clean drinkable water, garden plots to supplement the limited food supply, sewage, education and a small effort in entrepreneurship.
Moreover, the people with whom we visited are so very hospitable providing a place to sleep (no mattresses just wood boards), breakfast (beans, rice and corn tortillas) and dinner (chicken broth with a few vegetables and a very tough piece of a chicken). The most hospitable of all was their sharing of their pride in their children.Most important, your interest and contributions are tremendously appreciated! Any funds received will augment those from the Gig Harbor Rotary and the Olson Foundation. To be clear, your contributions will not solve the myriad of problems faced by the people of Guatemala, but we are sure from our visit that they are and will make many lives significantly better.
As plans and projects move forward I will continue with reports from time to time. Lastly, should you belong to a group who would be interested in a live presentation, we would happy to oblige. I am attaching a few pictures from our trip.
Warm Regards,
Jeff and Marcia Harris
___________________________________________________Joan FuetschRegional Director, Latin AmericaOffice: +1.415.535.2138Mobile: +502.3004.8923World Possible is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization--Jeremy SchwartzWorld Possible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Jeremy Schwartz
World Possible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Jeremy Schwartz
World Possible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
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