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Success Story: Uganda

Ugandan Development Centre Outreach

Our Mission:

Nortel employee John Gooch, supported by contributions from Nortel itself and other Nortel employees, travelled to a small Uganda village in summer 2007.  The goals of John and his daughter Kat included to establish a computer learning facility and to teach learners and their teachers in a grassroots Development Centre.

Nortel LearniT 21st century e-Learning initiative

Nortel LearniT presents John Gooch's first hand account of the endeavor  conducted by himself and his daughter Kat through Afrinspire, a charitable organization that aids indigenous projects:

"First of all a big thank you to you all, we raised over £7,000 in total, with Nortel's $5,000 contribution, Gift Aid, and donations made on the Just Giving Web site.  This enabled us to achieve all our financial objectives and some.  Thank you very much!"

"In addition to the financial objectives [of helping to establish the learning centre], there were some practical ones, with my daughter teaching and me fixing computers and starting the process to see if we can get Wi Max in Uganda."

Technological and educational infusion 

"From the computer side," Gooch continues, "I have seen enough computers to last a lifetime - especially those running windows 95!! But I managed to set up the Centre’s network and fix all the problems bar a few.  It is very difficult to get access to U.S. sites from Uganda.  They are often blocked, so I have a list of drivers for printers and scanners to find and download now that I am back in the UK."

In summary:

  • "The time passed so quickly even though we worked very long days, from 7.00 in the morning until very late at night--sometimes past midnight waiting for software to download. 220kbs is fast by Ugandan standards but slow for us with broadband.
  • In addition to fixing the computers, I designed and delivered a course on how to set up and manage computers, plus how to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint.  [Prior to the outreach] they did not realise the power of the tools so several schools can now design brochures, develop school budgets and best of all print out envelopes. [Find guidelines for some of the technology tools they used.]  
  • And finally a big big thank you to you all and of course K&N, Nortel and Jim Kerr for supporting this financially, with equipment (laptops, projectors, clothing and tools) and for giving me the time to go."

View the Uganda experience with pictures and commentary

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