The Computers are in a Box

Buhugu is without power, and has been for some months. The issue is over pay, we hear. The sub-county has been asked to pay some significant amount in arrears, and it doesn’t look like it will be resolved soon. At least, that’s what we have gathered from the various conversations.

So, for now, everyone is in darkness and we have packed most of the computers in a box and put them to rest. This is somewhat symbolic, as our approach is shifting from free access and training, to income generation and service delivery.

Mzei Ndugu, our “senior volunteer”, has offered to secure premises, with power, at the nearby trading center. Both he and his wife are strong supporters of our experiments, to say the least.

When the computers are resurrected, our focus will be on sustainability.

A look back at what they have achieved in a few years:

• Hundreds of young people have become computer literate.
• Trained tens of teachers, nursing students, government workers and those in the NGO sector.
• The total reach is estimated to be between five hundred and one thousand people.
  
• Provided the platform to experiment with rural IT outsourcing, that led to the launch of buhugu.com
• Helped identify young talent in the community, in whom we are making further targeted investments.
• Ultimately, they were the catalyst that brought the volunteers together and helped launch our other experiments.