Sparkle 40 #44 - 26 May 2020 (May 26, 2020)

Last Week's Meeting

Welcome to our guests:

Peter Ravenscroft
Day Gowland
Anne Fenby

Guest Speaker: Richard Paterson (World Literacy Foundation)

Cathy connected to Rotary @ Madison (Canada?) via Zoom – some members did a vision and dental clinic in Honduras. Recently started a Satellite Club as well.

PP Ian Ash and PP PHF Ian Wakefield helped Mrs Dunster who had approached Vicki for assistance with her garden
Suzi, Tina & Cathy met at the Glade
Tina had potted up plants with Rotary stickers
Bowelscan Month - because of COVID-19 bowelscan kits will not be sold through pharmacies in May but are available on line for $20 at www.rotarybowelscan.com.au

Change Over

Pres Elect Vicki Van Den Bergen has booked Changeover at Yarra Ranges Estate Winery, 39 Coulston Road, Monbulk on Sunday 5 July for Lunch - time TBC but please book diaries to keep lunchtime free.

Richard Paterson

The World Literacy Foundation.

Helping kids in Africa read out of poverty, using contemporary technology through a great program called Sun Books. The Sun Books project strives to bring relevant and suitable education digital content to children and young people in isolated and rural locations in the world to enhance their skills in reading, writing and numeracy.

Program currently in operation in Uganda.
20 million classrooms around the world that have no books: restricts ability for kids to learn
Lack of literacy is a strong predictor of poverty
Focus is on early intervention to reduce poverty

Andrew Kay visited some schools in Africa and saw no books and he and his mates started collecting books and sending these over in containers, but problem was cost of delivery and oppressive climates (books deteriorated quickly). Teachers also don’t have a copy of the curriculum.

Created tablet devices to be solar powered and preloaded with ~400 digital bi-lingual books plus literacy games and puzzles (culturally configured) plus curriculum guide for teachers plus guide provided to support delivery. Kids delighted just to see these. Regular updates provided via internet connection when in the city.

Set-up costs mean it costs ~$800 per tablet to get in the field. Top NBA player has donated a large sum to encourage others to contribute and he will match funding. RP has set-up a “School Adoption Program” (adopt a school in Uganda – each school uses ~20 devices) so that a Rotary Club would adopt a school (~$250, NBA player (Tobias Harris) pays the rest). 20 x $250 = $5000 to adopt. Alternatively, can just sponsor a number of tablets.

Beta testing in the field, no issues as yet (little or no internet connection, hence no viruses), but looking at insurance cover.

Each device has its own solar power unit. Laptops owned by the school and kept safe.

Received enquiries from all over the world (e.g. India).

Using this system for aboriginal education in Australia as well at present.

Thank you Richard for the wonderful presentation.

Picture - Delivering Potted Plants with Rotary Stickers to Emerald Glades. Thank you to Susi's son Jonas for taking the picutre.

Last Week's Meeting

Change Over

Richard Paterson

The World Literacy Foundation.

Events

We are regularly asked to share information on other Rotary Club or community group events. Rather than list all of them in Sparkle, please check out them out HERE

Emerald Village Community

Jackpot $18.05