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Delft University of Technology, The NetherlandsInternational Lustrum Symposium, 1nd and 2th November 2007
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS: Focus on Africa
Mentor-A-Child, a sustainable solution for education and culturalawareness
 Thieme A. Hennis*, Manoj Sharma*TU Delft, Dept. of Systems Engineering, Policy Analysis, and Management Jaffalaan 5, TU Delft, +31-6-51855220, thiemehennis@gmail.com, http://myopen.tudelft.nl
ABSTRACT
In 2007 the One-Laptop-Per-Child (OLPC) project started with the actual distribution of laptops. Millionsof laptops will find their way to children in underdeveloped countries throughout the world. The idealbehind the project is to make kids computer literate and hence open doors to new opportunities thatwere previously non-utilizable. However an important aspect that would directly govern success of theproject has received much less attention. A comprehensive training mechanism to teach kids - the useof laptops, internet and introduction to possibilities beyond - has not been mapped out. Mentor-A-Child(MAC) is a concept that would help in filling this important gap by connecting teaching volunteers onone end with the kids who receive the laptop on the other. MAC is a conceptual idea to assist this hugeproject by letting children worldwide connect with socially aware or interested persons on the internet.On the MAC website these two groups not only connect, but help each other in educational and culturalissues. The site can best be compared with a social networking site (SNS). Below, we will explain whyMAC is still necessary and addresses certain needs, better than what the current SNS's are capable of.
PROBLEMS ADDRESSED
Information without communication is worthless. Data without context can be overwhelming. Theinternet has provided many people in the world with enormous amounts of valuable information at theirfingertips. With the OLPC project, even the poorest of all are given the chance of participating in ourInformation Society. We think that just the ability to retrieve information from a cheap laptop is notsufficient for having these kids become fruitful participants in an information economy. A website withthe purpose of connecting these kids with others that are able to help them will overcome some hurdlesto fruitful participation. Important to address is the added value for both types of participation, mentorand child.
Child.
For a child in Africa, we assume that it is honourable and desirable to be able to connectand talk with people from another part of the world, a part they consider as more advanced thantheir own. In addition, they are being helped and educated freely. The added value is obvious.
Mentor.
Less obvious are the reasons for participation for so-called mentors. We assume thatindividuals will join and participate for different reasons. These reasons include the intrinsic valueof feeling a good person in doing something valuable in society. The intrinsic motivation might besomewhat increased, when the connections being made address the mentor's individual interestsand knowledge as well. More extrinsic reasons for participation include having a personal interestother cultures (or one specific), and possibly laying connections for online employment (thementor could for example flexibly defer easy tasks to kids).
UNIQUENESS OF APPROACH
Current SNSs are based on the implicit assumption that the knowledge level of the participants issimilar. Also there is no concept of learning from one other - it is much more of sharing of ideas ratherthan teaching. Current SNSs are mainly used for purpose of exchanging messages and building
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