The Challenge
Computers
Two of the greatest unmet educational needs in the countries where we work are computer literacy and competency in foreign languages. Deficiencies in these areas prevent students from becoming members of, and competitive in, the global community.
Although computer technology has brought great numbers of people closer together, thus far it has failed to reach millions who simply lack the necessary infrastructure to tap into it. Nowhere is the "digital divide" more visible than in developing countries. Throughout most of the developing world, computers are available to less than one percent of the population. Computer literacy is one of the largest unmet needs of the educational systems in our partner countries and often what holds young students back from being part of the global community and from improving their life situation.
Computer labs can have a life-changing impact on students. They provide core job skills and pre-vocational training in Information Technology for disadvantaged, at-risk youth populations. Furthermore, computer use helps reduce attrition rates by providing an incentive to students who might otherwise drop out of school. Thus, computer labs not only have an immediate impact of providing exposure to the outside world, they also provide for long-term growth and access to higher-paying jobs for students who would otherwise never have such opportunities.
Language
In many parts of the developing world, a background in foreign languages is a key to opportunity. The English language in particular opens doors ranging from world trade and foreign investment to technology, medicine, and environmental protection. In many cases, mastery of English can be a ticket out of poverty for families and villages.
Although most governments strongly encourage students to learn foreign languages, the quality of language instruction varies dramatically. In poor and rural areas, few teachers have ever interacted with native foreign speakers and many lack the fundamental resources to teach.
The Room to Read Computer Room Approach
Room to Read has developed a Computer Room Program to meet many of these needs. It is one of the last programs we launch in our partner countries, as we have found it beneficial to establish a working relationship with communities through our School Room or Reading Room Programs prior to investing in a more expensive and complicated program.
Computer Rooms
Opportunity is inherent in technology, and Room to Read works with local schools and partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to make computer access a reality through our Computer Room Program. Computer labs are established in schools and NGO-run community centers and consist of 10 to 20 computers (depending on country and room size), software, a printer, voltage stabilizers and Internet connection (where available); other basic needs such as furniture and a whiteboard are often included as well.
An integral aspect to this program is the training we provide to the computer lab teachers to help them develop a curriculum, to improve their computer teaching skills, and to ensure that hardware is maintained properly. The computer classes, and the teachers themselves, are periodically evaluated to quickly remedy any knowledge gaps and to reward successful programs with more computer resources. Over a three year period, we provide subsequent training, as well as additional software and occasionally additional computers.
Computer classes normally complement standard class time. In addition to teaching computer literacy and typing skills, the computers are used in conjunction with traditional classes to apply pragmatic application to relevant studies. Computer training and access are also often extended to members of the community after school hours.
One story of a successful Computer Room Program comes from Battambang, Cambodia, where we established a computer lab for the 4,000+ students at Net Yang Secondary School, a government school that caters to students from the surrounding rural areas. With many of his students too poor to afford access to private computer labs, the School Director approached Room to Read to establish a computer lab within the school. His desire was supported by the rest of the school administration, all of whom were highly committed to meeting and fulfilling our Challenge Grant requirements (see below).
After its completion in June 2005, the lab began serving many of the 429 students in grade nine, which has the highest rate of drop-out students. Students can use the lab twice for two hours each week. Students learn basic computer skills such as computer fundamentals and English and Khmer typing. One teacher, Mr. Neng Iv said, "[The] computer room will help students to stay at school. Children will gain a good benefit by studying the life skill from this project. The gift from Room to Read Cambodia would improve the human resource in my school."
Language Rooms
Room to Read also works directly with schools to make foreign language instruction a top
priority. We establish language labs where students and teachers can access audio and video
lessons. Because they can watch and listen to native language speakers, their listening,
speaking, reading, and writing skills greatly improve. The language labs support students in
gaining more confidence speaking and overcoming their natural shyness.
Language labs consist of headsets and personal modules, a computer for the teacher, and desks and chairs for the students. Typically, each lab can accommodate up to 40 students. Teacher training is provided to ensure the teachers possess the necessary skills to provide direction for their students. With a new lab, teachers can use modern techniques to teach traditional subjects and to spark students' interest in learning. With modern equipment in the lab, students learn proper pronunciation from native speakers; as a result, both their interest and their education increase.
An example of our Language Rooms comes from the Tan Phuoc Secondary-High School in the Tien Giang province of Vietnam; it is only one of two high schools in the area, and thus consists of nearly 50 classrooms, over 80 teachers and 2,000 students. Despite the relative poverty of the area, which results in many children working in the fields when they are not in class, the school has a relatively high rate of 60% of students graduating yearly; of those, 50% go on to college.
With English quickly becoming the main foreign language for the country, interest has skyrocketed, as many students realize that learning English is key for those that want to improve their future by obtaining a job in foreign businesses, non-governmental work, education, etc. Although many foreign language institutes have opened up in the urban areas of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, students in rural districts are seldom provided opportunities to learn at these types of centers. While the Tan Phuoc School already had a qualified, foreign language teaching staff and a language lab, a Room to Read Language Room would improve the quality education by providing enhanced learning technology and resources to both teachers and students.
Established in 2005, the Tan Phuoc Language Room is in a clean, well-lit space on the ground level of the school. The room is comfortable with walls repainted bright yellow by the school. The room is equipped with three ceiling fans, two air conditioners, glass doors, glass windows and lighting - all of which were provided by the school community. The students have to remove their shoes when they enter the lab, which always keeps the inside of the lab clean.
Students from grades 10 to 12 have been studying in the language lab in three sections per week with over 40 students in each class. Students find the video aspect of the lab helpful as they are able to incorporate visual activities with their listening and speaking skills. They work in pairs and have become more confident in their listening and speaking skills. In addition, an English Club has been established for those in the twelfth grade. With weekly Tuesday meetings, members of the club work together on their studies and practice their English through group discussion and presentations.
Our Challenge Grant Model
Community commitment is central to our philosophy. On top of demonstrating need and dependability, Room to Read requires the school community to co-invest with us through our "Challenge Grant" model. We approach our partnerships in every locale with an understanding that the people involved have the best solutions. Our program requires local investment and involvement. Once a school community has been chosen as a future site for a Room to Read computer or language lab, they must make a contribution to the process. The local team selects partners based on the following criteria:
- The school community must initiate the request.
- The community must sign our "Challenge Grant" contract. This contract stipulates that the community must perform some sort of co-investment with us to establish the computer or language lab. In addition to providing a clean, renovated room to be the devoted lab, schools must provide the teachers to run the lab (at least one teacher must go though Room to Read training), committed oversight of the ongoing project, and lab security. Furthermore, the school community is responsible for funding ongoing maintenance and electricity associated with the lab, and Internet access, if available.
Computer Room Results
Room to Read continues to expand our Computer Room Program to provide students in the developing world their first access to technology. Here is what we have done thus far and how we hope to grow the program.
| Country | Total Thru 2007 | 2008 (Projected) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambodia |  |
29 | 4 |
| India |  |
16 | 8 |
| Laos |  |
- | - |
| Nepal |  |
31 | 8 |
| Sri Lanka |  |
- | - |
| Vietnam |  |
32 | 10 |
| South Africa |  |
- | - |
| Zambia |  |
- | - |
How You Can Help
"Language exerts hidden power, like a moon on the tides."
- Rita Mae Brown, Starting From Scratch, 1988
Rather than becoming smaller, the global "Technology Divide" is ever widening.
Rather than bringing all people together, globalization leaves some with no access to the global community. Young people who do not have access to technology or an opportunity to learn foreign language skills from an early age must play "catch up" for the rest of their lives. You can change all that today by donating to our Computer Room Program.
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Donate to the Computer Room Program - Make a donation towards computer labs in a particular country, to the program in general, or leave it up to Room to Read to best allocate your contribution. |
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Sponsor the creation of a computer lab. |
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Learn about volunteer opportunities with Room to Read. |
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Sign up for our quarterly electronic newsletter to get updates on the organization, our programs, and more. |
"On behalf of the teaching staff and students at the Le Ngoc Han Secondary School, I want to thank all of you in Room to Read for your generous gift of a computer lab. Your support will help our young generation face the challenges of the future."
- Dong Thi Bach Tuyet
Training and Educational Services
Tien Giang Province, Vietnam
"My name is Kun Nara. I am a student in grade 9 of Net Yang High school. I am very excited about the gift from Room to Read Cambodia because I've never seen and had the opportunity to use this kind of computer technology before. My family is very poor. I don't have money to pay for the private computer school like some students in rich families. So this is a great opportunity for me to engage in this skill. Room to Read is amazing. I would like to say thank you to the donor who has offered great opportunities to the poor like us."
- Kun Nara, Net Yank High School, Battambarng, Cambodia
