Full steam ahead!

Right.....eh well, should probably have writen before now, as now so much has happened and I'm thinking there's a lot to say.
First of all, I have a great house to myself now, think colonial Africa, not Africa Africa, white folk are expected to live in a big house with security, so that's what I'm doing. I have a 2 bedroom house, which is fairly big, but safe, which always helps. It's in Malindi, which is the centre of it all here up the coast from Mombasa. It's a great place and even has a mango tree in the front garden which is getting nicely weighted down with fruit!

On the PC front, it is all go. I've been to visit a few schools, unfortunately some visits have found that computers are not being used at all or badly, and I've taken action to fix all that.
We now have clear rules as to what a school must provide and adhere to. Most importantly UPS's, a battery backup device. Power here comes and goes everyday, but also surges and this destroys the computers when they aren't connected through these.
This has been happening a lot at one school Baranni Secondary School and today I came and took away 20 broken and used parts. They now have to buy the correct amount of UPS's (1 per 2 computers) to continue getting any more computers. They are using 19 already, without the correct backup, and its a tough one to be hard on them. But they are causing a lot of damage to their(our) equipment.


I have set up one new school with computers so far, this is Gede Primary School. Myself and Hilary installed 6 computers and a printer last week, and then got them going with software etc.



They will then qualify for more computers once they get a computer teacher and the next school year starts, and they show interest and progress.

It's great the see, not just the kids but the teachers as well taking such an interest in the computers. When we started the installation in Gede, people just kept coming in and using the computers straight away. Working out how to type and trying the work out how to double click.

With programs like Encarta Encyclopia there are just wide eyed stares, it's brilliant to see!!!

A shortage I have over here is parallel printer cables and computer mouse. So if anyone has any spare lying around, a friend is coming over in a few weeks, and he could bring them over! Hint hint! Email me if you can help! Thanks.

It's going well over here, trying to keep up with computers plans, find schools and equipment and then go adventuring as well. Heading for an adventure to Mombasa tomorrow for supplies, local buses are SOOOOO much fun here, anything can happen!!

Kwahare!

LindsayBaranni Secondary School.
The pupils are sitting their state final school exam in computers this week.