Giakonda a Swansea based IT Company, is using the Welsh manufactured Raspberry Pi computer to support education and IT development for schools in the Siavonga region of Zambia.
Raspberry Pis are credit card sized computers that were designed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation with the intention of promoting the teaching of computer science to students who wanted to study it at university.
Howard Kirkman, Technical Director at Giakonda said: “The Raspberry Pi is a great piece of kit it is easy to teach the basic of computer science and programming along with Office applications like word processing and spreadsheets. We are installing useful educational software which even illiterate children are able to easily understand and learn from.
“We are also learning a lot, both culturally and technically as we are installing equipment in a much more challenging environment, but it’s very worthwhile, especially when you see how quickly the children here adapt and embrace the new equipment.”
In order to overcome the challenges of irregular electricity and poor lighting in the classrooms, Giakonda are installing solar panels to the roof of the building which will then be used to power LED lighting for the classes, as well as provide a sustainable power source for the IT equipment.
Chali Mangilazi, who works as an IT teacher at the local high school where the facilities are being developed said: “Our school will now act as a central IT learning centre for the Southern Province helping schools, teachers and the communities in the area to access the equipment.
“Using the skills I have developed, along with the team here I will be able to deliver a better quality of education and help develop practical IT skills for people in the region.
“One of the unexpected benefits has been that some of the local women in the area that sell at the market have been able to set up accounts to track their sales during IT classes, helping them set projections for sales and improve their businesses.”
Cat Jones, Partnership Manager at Hub Cymru Africa said: “It has been great to see the passion of Howard, his wife Wendy and the team at Giakonda, they are dedicating a lot of their own personal time and effort into this project.
“Projects like this one have allowed the Wales based staff at Giakonda to develop new skills as well as share their expertise with partners in Africa. In Zambia, skills are being passed from the teachers to the children, to the community, so everyone is benefitting.”
Giakonda will be showcasing their work at the Hub Cymru Africa, Cardiff University Phoenix Project, Bond (European Year of Development 2015) and European Commission in Wales, European Funding and Development Innovation event in Cardiff on the 2 December, for more information.
The project is supported by Hub Cymru Africa which is funded by the Welsh Government.
