2018 Annual Report

Contents

Message from the President ........................................................ 4

Vision and Mission ........................................................................ 5

Support Services ............................................................................ 6

Projects .......................................................................................... 8

Partners ......................................................................................... 18

Contact .......................................................................................... 20
 Message from the President

This past year, OLPC made much progress in its mission to provide every child with a quality,
innovative education. OLPC continues to expand its educational program around the globe, as
we provided more children with the tools and skills they need for success in today’s global
economy. Students and teachers in Nicaragua, Honduras, Rwanda, Nepal, Colombia, Haiti and
many other communities demonstrated their commitment to change the future each day as
they engaged in empowered learning. OLPC continues to work closely with teachers to give
them the skills and opportunities for professional development which enable them to create
learning environments where every child has an equal opportunity to grow and learn. As I
reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude to the schools, teachers, school administration,
donors, program sponsors, students and families who have committed themselves to
education.
OLPC continues to be motivated by the knowledge that laptops have a unique ability to take
advantage of a child’s innate curiosity and desire to learn. Based on OLPC’s extensive
experience in integrating technology into the learning process, we know use of laptops in the
educational process facilitates the development of critical thinking skills and fosters a love of
learning. Education is the foundation for full human social, economic and personal
development and it is a basic right to which every child is entitled.
The OLPC program continues to grow, thanks to the dedication and generosity of a large
number of organizations, volunteers and supporters. On behalf of the OLPC communities
around the world, thank you for your continued support. Your commitment to OLPC allows us to
educate and empower children around the world. Together, we are building a future where
every child has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Sincerely,
Roberto Zamora

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 Our Vision

OLPC believes every child deserves a quality education

and bright future. Learning is the basis for full human,
social and economic empowerment. OLPC is creating a
world where every child has an equal opportunity to
succeed through education.

Our Mission

OLPC creates educational opportunities for the world’s

most vulnerable children by providing each child with a
rugged, connected laptop, loaded with content and
software designed for joyful, self-empowered learning.
OLPC implements its educational program to provide
students with the opportunity to use technology in creative
ways, to support and supplement existing curriculum, to
combat social exclusion and to encourage innovation and
individual empowerment. Children learn best then they
are actively engaged in exploration and collaboration.
OLPC provides children with the tools and skills they need
for innovative learning experiences.

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 Support Strategy

Thanks to your support, OLPC has provided more than 3 million laptops to children around
the world. In addition to providing each student and teacher with a connected laptop,
OLPC provides participating schools with a teacher training program and technical
support services. These services have proven crucial to the sustainability of each OLPC
program, as they transfer knowledge to local teams to build local capacity and ensure the
long-term sustainability of each program. OLPC services focus on seven key components:
• Program Design
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Implementation & Logistics
• Volunteer Program
• Teacher Training
• Community Development
• Technical Support
Each aspect of the program focuses on creating local capacity as a long-term solution.
OLPC’s multidisciplinary teams work closely with local leaders to analyze the social,
economic and educational context to create a program tailored to address the specific
needs and stated goals of each community.
OLPC’s goal is to support program design and implementation. With more than 12 years of
experience, OLPC is uniquely positioned as an expert in the integration of technology into
the learning environment. Through these comprehensive services, we work together to
design and implement programs that lead to a change in schools and communities to
create a better future for all.

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Students:
We create a space for
belonging that helps to
develop:
• Responsibility through the
care and maintenance
of the laptop as an
educational tool and
• Student’s involvement
in and dedication to the
learning process.
What We Do
Teachers: School Principals: Parents:
We work with teachers to Principals take ownership We work closely with
strengthen skills, such of the vision of change, as parents. They receive
as: they assume active roles training on different topics
• Teamwork in implementing the OLPC as part of the comprehen-
Program. sive and inclusive OLPC
• Respect
educational program.
Principals encourage new
• Communication
experiences for learning and
• Responsibility improve their leadership in
• Creativity school management.
• Problem Solving Abilities

The OLPC Educational Program facilitates collaborative

learning by transforming the role of students in the
classroom. Students are encouraged to become
teachers during exchanges of technological knowledge.
With access to technology and ongoing opportunities
for professional development, teachers can improve
the quality of the content taught and improve their
own professional knowledge and abilities. We work
to empower teachers to implement new pedagogical
strategies in the classroom, to overcome challenges and
increase satisfaction with the quality of their work. 7
 Madagascar

In March, a team of researchers released their initial results from a

four-year study of the impact of the OLPC program in Madagascar. More
than 75% of Madagascar’s population lives below the poverty level and
laptops are seen as an item of great value. The study was conducted in
a village on the island of Nosy Komba and included 160 children
between the ages of 5 and 15. The program is supported by OLPC France
and Gducœur.
The qualitative and quantitative study showed the use of computers in
low-income countries does support both formal and informal learning.
Projects

The computers provide access to information and provide opportunities

for educational games and other forms of self-expression. This data
shows the effectiveness of the OLPC program in reducing the digital
divide and providing vulnerable children with innovative opportunities for
learning.
The researchers accurately note teachers and school administrators
have an important role in the learning process, as they can facilitate and
encourage creative learning. To read more about the program and the
study, click here.

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[Photos: © Laura del Reynal]
Nicaragua

The OLPC Education program implemented in Nicaragua and

throughout Central America by the Fundación Zamora Terán
released a summary of the qualitative and quantitative
achievements of the program throughout the past nine years. FZT
has implemented the OLPC Education Program with more than
65,000 students and 2,100 teachers in Nicaragua. FZT also
supports OLPC programs in Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama,
Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.
The research shows that OLPC program, supported by a rigorous
teacher training program, has had a powerful impact on student
achievement. Participating students have improved their math
and reading skills and are above the international averages.
Students have developed the digital skills identified by UNESCO as
part of a 21st century education. They also have become
enthusiastic learners, committed to education.
School leaders and teachers have also improved their
professional skills. Schools participating in the OLPC program in
Nicaragua have a teacher retention rate higher than the national
average.
Parents are more involved in the educational process and most
children have taught family members how to use their laptops.
Surveys indicate there are at least 4 additional beneficiaries for
every student included in the program. These results show the
powerful effect of giving students and teachers the skills and tools
they need for a 21st century education. You can access the rest of
the summary here.
Thank you to Fundación Zamora Terán for your work in improving
education throughout Nicaragua and Central America!

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 Fundación Zamora Terán
Opens Innovation Center in Nicaragua

In April, Fundación Zamora Terán celebrated the grand opening of the FZT Innovation Center in Managua, Nicaragua, thanks
to a generous donation from Banco Lafise. The Innovation Center is a space where the community can gather to use
technology to design and implement innovative social projects to solve local issues and improve the quality of life.
The Innovation Center offers opportunities for robotics, programming, software development, use of 3D printers, and other
innovative activities. Participants are encouraged to design creative solutions to local issues. The space has also hosted two
Startup Weekends to give local entrepreneurs an opportunity to develop and evaluate innovative business plans with the
support of local business leaders. More than 60 local entrepreneurs participated in these events which were a great success.
The Innovation Center will continue to serve as a resource for innovation in the community. The Center’s motto says it all:
“Where ingenuity and passion are the motors of transformation.”

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 Honduras

The OLPC Education program in Honduras, supported by

Fundación Zamora Terán (FZT) expanded to 13 educational
centers with more than 6,000 participating children. The FZT
team works in four departments of the country, including the
remote area of Santa Mara del Carbón located in the
Department of Olancho. Here, FZT is working directly with the
Pech Indigenous Community to improve academic outcomes.
FZT’s multidisciplinary teams provided teacher training and
strategic management training to school leaders. Parents,
community volunteers and students are also involved in the
day-to-day operations of the program. FZT in Honduras formed
a strategic alliance with the Academy of Honduras as part of
the larger sustainability initiative for the OLPC education
program. In addition to use in the classrooms, the XO Laptops
have also been used in pilot programs for electronic voting.
Thanks to generous donors including Fichosa, Lady Lee
Foundation, Central de Ingenios Sociedad Anonima, Sociedad
Hidroeléctrica Olanchana (SHOL.SA), CARGILL, Compañía
Azucarera Hondureña Sociedad Anónima, L.Sole and Banco
LAFISE Honduras, 4,200 laptops have been distributed to
participating educational centers. Together, FZT and OLPC are
building a brighter future for children in Honduras.

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 MoneyGram Donation to Costa Rica

MoneyGram Foundation made a generous grant to

OLPC of 300 laptops for students in Costa Rica. The
Laptops were delivered to SIFAIS and Fundación Zamora
Terán for implementation with children and teachers at
the SIFAIS center in San Jose, Costa Rica. As part of the
grant, OLPC and FZT have implemented a teacher
training program, technical support services training and
evaluation component. The laptops are used by students
in after-school clubs called “Spaces to Grow” (Espacios
para Crecer). Participating children have the opportunity
to improve their reading and math skills, as well as daily
opportunities to learn programming and robotics skills.
SIFAIS is a nonprofit organization based in Costa Rica
focused on education and social entrepreneurship. It
serves more than 1600 marginalized individuals,
including more than 300 children. It strives to create a
positive community environment to allow for the greatest
development of all members. This is a wonderful
opportunity for the children who visit the center and we [Photo: © Carolina Meza]
look forward to sharing more news from this important
program.
Many thanks to MoneyGram Foundation for this
wonderful opportunity!

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Robotics Champions: Fundacion Marina Orth

Fundación Marina Orth is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide a high

quality education to children in Colombia. It focuses on providing students with
English language instruction and opportunities to use technology in innovative
ways. Fundacion Marina Orth has deployed more than 5000 XO Laptops in its
innovative educational centers throughout Colombia.
In May, a team of young female students called the “Little Engineers” traveled to
Albuquerque, New Mexico to participate in the
RoboRave International Robotics Competition. This
team of “Little Engineers” took first place in the
Middle School category, beating teams from
China, Japan, India, Mexico and the United States.
This victory is a wonderful example of the
important work done by the Fundación Marina
Orth, which provides students with the opportunity
to develop the 21st century skills required by the
global economy.
We send our congratulations to the Little Engineers
Team and to the Fundación Marina Orth. Thank
you for your important work supporting students in
Colombia!

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 OLPC Initiates Programs in Zimbabwe & Zambia

Thanks to a generous donation from Henny’s Kids, OLPC provided laptops

and teacher training to students and teachers in two schools in remote
areas of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Henny’s Kids was founded by Candyce
Stapen, author of numerous travel books and a frequent guest on
national radio and television, in honor of her mother.
Thanks to the generous donors who support Henny’s
Kids, OLPC laptops and training were delivered to two
schools. Ms. Stapen selected two schools which
lacked electricity and adequate educational materials.
Students only had access to old textbooks for learning.
Ms. Stapen decided to make a difference in the lives of
these children and communities through this
generous donation.
Ngamo School, Zimbabwe
Ngamo is a primary school serving 380 students from
kindergarten through seventh grade. Students range
in age from 4 to 13. The school is located in the Ngamo
Village near the border of Hwange National Park. Six
teachers participated in the two-day intensive training
provided by OLPC. Henny’s Kids also raised funds to
purchase solar panels for the school to provide power
for the laptops.

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As with many OLPC programs, the arrival of the laptops
marked the first time students and teachers had an
opportunity to use a computer. For this reason, Henny’s
Kids and OLPC knew the importance of providing onsite
training sessions led by OLPC experts. During the next
several days, teachers learned how to use the laptops to
teach science, math, history, writing, music, reading and
other academic and digital skills. After the initial trainings,
OLPC experts continue to support teachers remotely,
providing ongoing lesson planning support and curriculum
integration guides.
TWABUKA Primary School, Zambia
Twabuka School is located in the Sinde Village,
approximately one hour from Victoria Falls, one of the
seven natural wonders of the world. Twabuka has 300
students in grades kindergarten through eight. Henny’s
Kids donated portable solar panels and OLPC laptops to
the school. “We decided to purchase laptops from OLPC
because the laptops are uniquely designed for children in
rural areas. They have hundreds of learning applications, a
long battery life and can operate using solar power,” said
donor Candyce Stapen.

[Photo: © Candyce Stapen]

These two new programs evidence the true impact of the OLPC
program and mission. Through this generous donation, OLPC
provided vulnerable children with an opportunity for empowered,
engaging, innovative learning. OLPC is grateful to Henny’s Kids for
this outstanding gift to students in Zambia and Zimbabwe!

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 OLPC Featured in Social Design Exhibit

The OLPC Laptop and Education Program is featured in an exhibition focused

on “Social Design” at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich (Museum of Design)
in Zurich, Switzerland. The exhibit examines projects from around the world
and the intersection of design, society, the global economy, humans and the
environment. The exhibit opened in October of 2018 and runs through March
of 2019.
Learn more: https://museum-gestaltung.ch/en/ausstellung/social-design/

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 Gartner ITxpo 2018

For third year, OLPC was invited to participate in the Gartner Symposium/ ITxpo in
October 2018, in Orlando Florida. Thank you to Gartner for your continued support
for the OLPC Educational Program!

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 Thank You To Our Donors

In loving memory of
OWEN FOUNDATION
SARA “SALLY” COUGHLIN

BERNSTEIN FAMILY
EDWIN VERSPUI
FOUNDATION

THE HAMSA FUND GRADCO LLC

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