Digital Literacy Kenya Project #15041

Cable Needed for New Computer Center in Kenya

by Kenya Connect (KC)

Project Report | Oct 10, 2014
Have We Connected?

By Sharon Runge | Executive Director

cable installation in progress

It's exciting to have 28 computers in a rural village for the 18,000 school children in our 55 partner schools---It's not a ratio many would imagine in the U.S., but Kenya Connect has worked hard to provide access to computers and to offer introductory computer classes to students and teachers. Students in the U.S. have created an international book group with the goal of having "skyped" book sessions with their friends in Kenya. It all sounds great, but the Internet technology remains a major hurdle yet to cross.

Thanks to the support of so many donors, we were able to network 22 of the computers in the LRC through a cable. This has greatly aided our instructional courses since all computers are connected and can work together in course instruction. We believed this connection would also aid in all computers sharing internet from a single Internet connection. But alas, it didn't work due to the slow bandwidth currently available.

Kenya Connect then contacted Safaricom, the biggest internet service provider in Kenya. They tried connecting the cable to their infrastructure on a trial basis. Sadly, there is not enough bandwith in Wamunyu to allow a clear connection to the U.S.-- especially during peak usage periods.

However, we are not giving up! Kenya Connect is committed to making the internet part of instructional learning. We have reached out to the Governor of our district to see if he can help bring a stronger signal to Wamunyu. If Kenya is to grow, all students and teachers need to have access to the immense resources available on the Internet.

Some may believe we have not achieved our initial goals. However, we are persistent and are confident that we will eventually have our computers fully connected to the internet providing so many rich and varied resources to our community.

Networking the computers

Using the shared network to administer a lesson

Ngangani PS on partially successful skype session

Kituiu PS learning 21st century skills at the LRC

Nyaani bookclub at a flopped skype session at LRC

Teachers learning computer skills at the LRC

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Jun 9, 2014
Cable installation is completed!

By James Musyoka | Field Director & Director of Operations

Working on the final touches for the cable

The cable installation at the Learning Resource Center is now complete! All 20 mac mini computers at the computer lab are now connected and can share information. We have additional 7 laptops that will come in hardy in our training program. There are also more connection points in the computer lab and also within the offices to allow more computers to be connected in future. All these computers can access the Internet through a GPRS router connected to the ethernet switch.

A group of 120 students and teachers who have been learning computer literacy skills were among the first to benefit from the cable connection. These students were able to learn the use of Internet as a communication tool and also for research. They were also able to learn how to send and receive email messages. Some of the teachers had the opportunity to create their own email accounts! Another group of 200 5th grade students from 5 different schools benefitted from the cable through a online tailored learning resource (Exceed Academy) developed by Avallain Africa and Jacarada designs.

"I am happy to learn how to use the Internet for research and communication. I will now be able to access more teaching materials for my students and also to communicate with my friends" Mrs. Alice, Teacher Makaalu Primary School

We also had our The School Fund (TSF) Secondary students use the Internet for their geocaching club to log in caches, check GPS coordinates and to follow some of their "trackable" items. This would not have been possible without the Internet at the LRC. Just this past week, TSF students met with college students from the U.S. to learn about entrance requirements and scholarship availability for university and they all used the Internet to search for this information.

The cable connection will be a great learning opportunity for students and teachers from our enrolled schools. Although the Internet connectivity is a bit slow, we are exploring ways to make it a bit faster by installing a dish, but then we would be required to pay reccurrent montly fees for the Internet.

We are very grateful to you all for making this project a success and how it benefits our 55 partner schools in Wamunyu!

The GPRS router providing internet at the LRC

A class from Nyaani PS doing Exceed Academy

Wamunyu ABC. The excitement of online learning!

A class from Kambiti PS doing Exceed Academy

One way our students make use of the Internet!

A class from Miini PS at the lRC

KC Geocachers club at LRC using the GPS

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Mar 10, 2014
Cable installation in progress

By James Musyoka | Field Director & Director of Operations

Assembling 9U cabinet

Finally, the cable installation is in progress! The process began when we secured a suitable contractor. In liason with the contractor, we were able to procure supplies needed for the work - rolls of data cables, a 9U cabinet, face plates, ethernet switch, trunkings, UPS, RJ 45 connectors, wall box connectors among other things. With the materials on site, the contractor began by assembling the cabinet to run the wires through, installing the trunkings, and laying the cables within the computer lab of the LRC building. A total of 38 connection points have been set up at the computer lab meaning a maximum of 38 computers can be connected to the internet at the lab at the same time. Currently the lab has 20 mac mini computers with an ultimate hosting capacity of 40 computers. Other rooms within the LRC building are also being installed with the cable and networked which will allow us to spread out the computers if we need to. Another 10 connection points have been established in other rooms within the LRC building making the total connection points 48! The process of testing the cables and wall connection switches is now occurring. The contractor is working hard to ensure that work is completed in good time.

Once the cable installation work is finalized, this will mark a big stride in our efforts to provide skills for the 21st century. Many of the missed opportunities by our students and teachers (as highlighted in the previous progress report) will turn into reality. The Center will become the hub of communication and online research among students and teachers in our 54 enrolled schools. Book club discusions via Skype (which in the past have been a big frustration) will now be feasible.

We are excited to highlight that the completion of the cable is coniciding with the inclusion of five of our enrolled schools in a pilot project called 'Exceed Academy Africa' which is part of Avallain Africa and Jacarada Designs (the producers of Young African Express). The 5 target schools will get e-learning modules delivered to standard five. We are starting to get tailored educational resources on-line.

The current 120 students and teachers in training at the LRC on computer skills will be among the first group to benefit from this cable project.These learners are very excited to see the cable project get underway and cannot wait to experience the power of the internet.

"I am happy to see the laying of network cables in the Kenya Connect LRC. My dream to use the Internet as a research tool will soon come to fruition"

Mr. Francis Muli - A teacher at Kambiti Primary School

We remain most grateful to you our supporters for making this great learning transformation happen among our schools.Thank you!

Some of the supplies purchased

Applying adhesive on the trunkings

Mounting trunking on the wall

Laying the cables

More cables to make for the 48 connection points!

Winding up on laying cables

Drilling points for patrices

Installing cable in other rooms of the LRC

Mounting wall connectors

Working on the plugin sockets

Terminating the cables

Terminating the cables with modules

Working on the swith box

Working on the ethernet switch

Students of Makaalu PS in class session

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