Paul This is the real empowerment and you targeted the right segment and the right timing I hope with funds permitting and the lessons learned that the project can run longer to push 1 million laptops out there - it will be transformational !! Suggest that you collaborate with HELB to chip in specifically for those not able to raise the rest of the cash My daughter is a beneficiary and the sense of ownership is higher than if I bought it for her - she told me she struggled for it!! cheers Muriuki Mureithi What am i losing with all the gaining ? Bob Buford US Author -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+mureithi=summitstrategies.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Paul Kukubo ICT Board Sent: 28 March 2011 15:15 To: mureithi@summitstrategies.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: [kictanet] Update on the Wezesha laptop project Listers The Kenya ICT Board would like to announce that a total of 9,676 laptops have been purchased under the Wezesha laptop initiative. The Kenya ICT Board has commenced a project review exercise that is expected to take about 2- 3 weeks. This review will allow the Kenya ICT Board to make project changes during the second half of the initiative. Among other things this review is necessary to add features that will enable a friendlier interaction with the Wezesha portal (www.wezesha.co.ke) for students, University Coordinators and the retailers. The Government of Kenya under the Ministry of Information and Communications, with the Kenya ICT Board as the implementation agency, launched 'Wezesha'—a laptop ownership initiative for university students across Kenya. This initiative supports the attainment of Kenya's Vision 2030. Under ‘Wezesha' which means 'enable' in Kiswahili, university students in participating public and private universities and colleges will be eligible for a price rebate on the purchase of a laptop. The Wezesha initiative shall support the purchase of 15,667 laptops. The purpose An empowered student is better equipped to carry out research, complete assignments. In addition the laptop becomes a critical tool for entertainment and information. It is the hope of government that students will become ambassadors for greater digital literacy across their communities and in their homes across Kenya improved access. The government also hopes to achieve greater student innovation and entrepreneurship, with students collaborating to create and execute bankable business ideas. The Kenya ICT Board indicates satisfaction with the uptake of the laptops under this scheme and expects to achieve 100% sales by mid year when the project is completed. Indeed some universities exhausted their voucher allocations quite quickly. How the program works Students interested in receiving the discounted laptops are required to visit the Wezesha web portal, www.wezesha.co.ke. The web portal is designed to manage the Wezesha initiative from registration to purchase of the laptop. The steps are as follows; Step one: Student registers online according to the University attended and receives email notification upon successful registration. Step two: Appointed University coordinator verifies that the individual registered is a current university student and grants approval in the system. Once approved, formal notification and electronic voucher for laptop purchase is sent to student via email. Step three: Student logs back onto the Wezesha portal selects preferred laptop from one of the pre-qualified retailers. Step four: Student goes to retailer’s shop with printed voucher number and balance amount to redeem laptop. Student must present national and student ID. The student then pays for laptop, less the amount on the voucher. Step five: Student owns new laptop. Ends. Sent from my iPad _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: mureithi@summitstrategies.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mureithi%40summitstrate...