My side project is a litte different, and kindof got dropped in my lap. I am working to get the town donated computers, so they can make a Computer Center. Then I am going to set it up, hook it to the internet, and train the people to administer it. This is a boon for a community that doesn’t even have a library; the possibilities are amazing- they can research farming techniques, health information, keep up with current events. It’s staggering. I sent out help requests to friends that I think might be interested or able to help, but I am open to any additional input from anyone. This picture is of the room that will become the computer center. For those of you that are interested, my proposal so far is included below. If you are not interested, skip it, it’s long-winded.

Update: I have one computer pledged so far. I also just started talking with an NGO that helps get old American computers from the US to Guatemala. But I still need help!

A few weeks ago, we were assigned our service community, and we’ve been spending a lot of time assessing their needs, talking with the villagers, and meeting with the town elders (kind of like City Council). You can read the blog if you want to know what is going on in general, but a specific thing that my village needs is a computer center.

During a meeting with the elders, they told us that they want local kids to have more opportunities than their parents did, and they realize that the ability to use computers is a critical to their futures. Emily and I also feel that internet access would help them in a ton of other areas: researching better farming techniques, learning about health, and starting a fair-trade microbusiness are all projects we are preparing. They don’t have a library here, either; there are only a few in the entire country, so this is a cost-effective way to make tons of knowledge available to these native Mayans.

Three years ago they built a place for a computer center in their little school (it’s basically a clean, dry room with electricity and its own panel). Computers are extremely rare here, so they appealed to the national government (which is corrupt and pretty ineffective) several times for assistance, with no luck. Now we have an opportunity to really make a difference. I’m pretty excited about the project and its possibilities, but I can be a lot more effective if I have third-party help from people more knowledgeable and connected than myself. This is where you come in.

What I need:

• Ideas for general setup and a ton of advice
• Used computer donation or sources for donations
• Some occasional technical support as I am setting up the center

So, here’s my plan (subject to any input from you):

Community involvement:

The first part of doing development work is that it has to be sustainable. The Peace Corps doesn’t give “gifts”; we help people to do it themselves. As such, communities served must put in work equal to the things that come into the community from outside sources. To get donated computer hardware, I’ve required the community to “match funds” by kicking in the following:

• A permanent, community-owned and rent-free location for the Center
• All chairs, desks, and related furniture
• Pay for electricity
• Pay for monthly internet monthly fees, as well as connection fees/ equipment
• Provide a competent administrator/educator, to be trained and ready before I leave Guatemala.

These things, unlike the hardware, are within their reach and willpower; for example, there are several furniture makers in town that are lined up to make the desks & chairs to my specifications.

Physical arrangement:

I am hoping for 6 to 8 stations. They would be networked, and share an internet connection. As much as I am a Mac fan, I fear they should be WinXP, as this is what everyone in the third-world uses (and these kind people have done nothing to deserve the horrors of Vista). I imagine that it will be peer-to-peer, because that seems easier for non-techies to set up and administer, but I am open to any suggestions. It would also be nice if we had an LCD projector (even an old 640×480 would be better than nothing) to use when training. Here’s a proposed equipment list; please let me know if I missed anything:

Things I need donated:

• 6 to 8 computers w/ monitors, keyboards, mice, NICs. Or laptop(s) if that’s what I can get.
• some software (more on that later)
• 1 16-port switch
• 1 router (could be a combo gizmo; i will use whatever I can get)

Things I can get in-country (but won’t refuse if donated):

lots ethernet cable, cable terminations, crimping tool. Maybe pre-made cables are an option?

• 1 UPS

Nice bonuses:

• Extra parts such as hard drives, memory, mice, keyboards
• NAS or some centrally available storage
• The aforementioned LCD projector
• A webcam or two
• Anything clever you can think up

I might hook up a wireless router if one is available or I get some laptops. That is just hypothetical, and is a pretty low priority. I know that some of your businesses regularly throw out outdated hardware, and a 4 or 5 year old machine would seem like Star Trek to most Guatemalans.

Advice I need:

I need advice as far as software goes. Everyone here in Guatemala uses pirated software, all the time, no exception. I am uncomfortable with that. We can’t afford to buy anything; our CASH budget is 0 (we have lots of available manpower and natural resources, though!) My current thought is that I might run the entire system with Ubuntu Linux (free!), pending my evaluation of it. Likewise, I will install OpenOffice suite, as it’s open source, stable, and very similar to MS Office, allowing easy transition for the students. For those of you that are involved with enterprise-level stuff (Mark, Bryan, Kathy) does your business deadfile old software? Would they be willing to donate old copies of other stuff like Photoshop or Pagemaker or whatnot?

Thoughts on Donation:

If your company wants to get a tax writeoff, I can get information for your accountant from the Peace Corps. This might be a bit time consuming and involve some paperwork (we’re talking Federal Government), but is doable. If they are not really concerned about that part of it and just want to do something for the good of humanity, the process will be easier.

As far as transporting the equipment, there are three options. One is to mail it. This has a few problems: it’s costly, and it’s unreliable as things could get broken or quite possibly stolen in the Guatemalan postal system. If you use a company like DHL or Fed Ex, it’s much safer, but there will be import duties to be paid. An option I recently thought up is that I can personally pick the stuff up if/when I come back to the US to visit family and friends for the holidays. This is a fair amount of work for me, but seems safer and cheaper. Airlines let you take some 80lbs of stuff with you, and more if you pay extra…. and I have talked them out of the extra fee before, by explaining I am with the Peace Corps. Plus, it’s a great excuse for me to come visit YOU!

Also, if any of you are looking for a REALLY interesting vacation, talk to your boss and see if you can get a week on-the-clock to travel and help set this up! Those of you that work for Christian organizations might be able to talk a boss into it on its charity alone, and it could be tax deductible. You’d get a free, Spanish-speaking guide (me) the whole time, and I’d make sure we got spare time to see some fun touristy stuff too. Oh, and I’d cook you dinner.

Thanks for taking the time to hear my appeal. Please realize that I picked the six of you not so much because of your formidable knowledge in all things computational, but because I know that you have helped me a lot in the past, and I have a lot of trust in you. Even if you don’t have access to material resources, I know your advice and technical input will help me immensely.