Apologies for cross-posting...but here's an opportunity for University/college students... walu.

From: Juma, Calestous <calestous_juma@harvard.edu> Subject: Grants for African college students To: "'david.dickson@scidev.net'" <david.dickson@scidev.net> Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 6:17 AM BOSTON, MA-- One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is beginning a summer grant program in which up to 100 teams of university students from around the world will distribute thousands of XO laptops to children in Africa this summer.

Partnering with schools and non-governmental organizations in Africa, undergraduate and graduate students from around the world will provide educational opportunities that facilitate self-expression and exploration for children.

OLPC is providing each team with 100 XO laptops, related hardware, and up to $10,000 for operating costs. Student teams will have the opportunity to attend an orientation workshop in Kigali, Rwanda from June 8-17.

Afterwards, they will spend nine weeks in an African nation, working directly with local community partners to integrate the XO into primary education. OLPC founder and Chairman Nicholas Negroponte said that the new program "represents a determined effort by OLPC to engage university students worldwide in bringing an education revolution to children living in some of the most remote places on Earth.

By empowering students from a multitude of countries and cultures to act as agents of change, the belief that all children have a right to quality education -- regardless of where they happen to live -- will spread across the globe."

To date, OLPC has put over 500,000 XO laptops into the hands of children all across the world. The One Laptop per Child association developed a low-cost laptop -- the "XO Laptop" -- to revolutionize how we educate the world's children.

OLPC's mission is to provide educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.

The OLPCorps program features a high level of local community involvement, as local schools and NGOs will sustain the project for years to come. *** One Laptop per Child - Africa Grant Program Students have played a pivotal role in every revolution, except learning. That will change in 2009. Through One Laptop per Child, student teams from around the world will each deploy 100 XO-laptops throughout Africa this summer. If you are an undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in education, technology or capacity building, our summer grant program will provide you with unprecedented hands-on experience.

Student Teams will: • travel to one of the 53 African countries of their choosing for 9-10 weeks • participate in a 10-day orientation in Kigali, Rwanda at OLPC's office• receive up to $10,000 per team for operating costs• deploy 100 XO laptops, including hardware and support• collaborate with up to 100 other teams as part of a life-long global network empowering a generation • send a representative to MIT/OLPC's all-expense paid summit from October 10-12, 2009.

OLPCorps Africa Members will be active members of our innovative 1 to 1 laptop-learning project and hold key roles as leaders in our grassroots movement. The OLPC summer grant program, which is a full-time commitments, begins June 8. Teams will work closely with the One Laptop per Child team to design and implement XO deployments, join a uniquely African OLPC network, and lead a growing social movement. How to apply: For more information on OLPCorps Africa and specific application requirements, please visit our website: http://laptop.org/en/participate/get-involved/OLPCorps.shtml. Proposals must be received by March 27th. Contact OLPCorps (OLPCorps@laptop.org) with any questions or concerns.