When we started BostonPocketPC.com nearly seven years ago, the primary goal was to serve as a way of getting out the word on Windows Mobile (then known as “pocket PC”) information on a regional basis (mainly the Boston area). We quickly grew to be regional, then national, then global. For all these years, we’ve always viewed the web site as a means of helping people out in whatever way possible (information, Q&A, etc). For this reason, I feel particularly thankful that we were able to participate in the HP Magic Giveaway contest. With all of negatives things going on both at home and abroad, having a contest that promoted the spirit of giving felt right. The winner of our contest (announced yesterday) made me feel even better.
Our winner (drawn randomly from hundreds of entries) was Evan Brammer. Amazingly, I remembered Evan from our HP 31 Days of the Dragon contest earlier in the year. His entry really stood out from my perspective. Unfortunately, he did not win that contest. “Good Karma” came his way, however, and he now can take advantage of his winning entry to help others. To understand why this feels so right, I submit his contest entry:
“I have the privilege of working for a fantastic education organization in Indonesia that builds high-quality international schools for the wealthier Indonesians and then uses that money to benefit the less fortunate. These are referred as "pelita" schools. I teach at Sekolah Pelita Harapan in Lippo Cikarang. My wife and two kids moved with me here half a year ago from the States to be a part of this great work.
What is great about what the Foundation does is that they take the money they "make" from the higher level "pelita" schools to then build two other types of schools: "dian" schools for the middle class (these schools break even as far as funding goes) and then "lentara" schools (where all of there funding comes from outside sources because the students families are unable to pay for an education).
The mission of the Foundation is to build ten pelita schools, one hundred dian schools, and one thousand lentara village schools. What is great about the lentara schools are they are completely free to the students, most of which would have no opportunity for an education. They are in Indonesian villages and while they are staffed with high quality Indonesian teachers, they still have very limited access to quality resources. That is where the magic begins.
What I would do with with the HP Magic Giveaway computers is to help every level of the schools that I mentioned to give them better opportunities at a world class education.
First, I would set up the Touchsmart in my classroom, giving my students (the future leaders of this burgeoning nation) a jumpstart into 21st century learning; helping them to not only be content consumers, but more importantly content producers. We would use it to create dynamic kml tours for Google Earth for geography and blogging for English. We could then use those and many more resources that the students and teachers create to pass down to both the dian and lentara village schools.
We (my class) would donate one of the laptops to a nearby (or faraway) lentara village school so that the teachers and students from both my school and the lentara school can exchange ideas, lessons, and friendships. This would greatly benefit both parties as the lentara schools would have better access to content and the pelita students would be able to have a greater knowledge of a constituency here in Indonesia that all too often is forgotten: the village poor.
For the remaining computers (and Kung-Fu Panda), they would most likely be used as tools in one of the three levels of schools. I can see the Mini 1000 being used as a field computer to gather data from the eco-garden that we are trying to build. The other laptop could be used as a mobile training computer, used to train both dian and lentara staff in new methodology. Truly, the opportunities in education would be endless.
Thank you for even giving us the opportunity to compete."
I sincerely believe that Evan is an example of what we regularly refer to as “everyday heroes”. The work he performs truly makes a difference to so many, and I am sure comes with personal sacrifice. During this annual “Season of Giving”, I truly hope that his winning entry helps to further his work and greater cause. I honestly feel fortunate to have played some small part in all of this. I never imagined years back that BostonPocketPC.com could (or would) be able to give back in such a way.
Here’s to the spirit of the season, everyone. Here’s to hoping that we all can still find a way to feel the gift of giving or receiving during these troubled times.