[OLPC-NYC] Happy New Year: OLPC Epic Wins, Doing Things Better and the Long Journey Ahead!

[Ryan Onell Letada]

Dearest friends,

On behalf of Education Kindling (eKindling), Manigong Bagong Taon (Happy New
Year)!

Woah! 2010 was a blur and it was filled with challenges, surprises, and epic
wins for our first One Laptop Per Child deployment in the Philippines. Here
are some of the inspirational highlights:

   1. Enhancing teaching and learning talents: 4 champion educators, 4 Tech
   Squad Kids, parents and administrators were trained in the National Computer
   Center on the use of XO laptops in the classrooms, maintenance and repair,
   and powerful and innovative ways of digital learning! Watch our Tech Squad
   Kids: co-teachers in the
classroom<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjk86l7rowA>.

   2. Inspirational Fundraising: In honor of the Mayor Juan Sanchez of
   Lubang, Mindoro, a community of National Computer Center employees,
   successfully raised nearly $24,000 to purchase 100 XO laptop. Through an
   email campaign and word of mouth, they collected donations ranging from
   $5-$2000 from over 100 individuals. Inspirational, grassroots fundraising,
   right? Are you inspired enough to start your own fundraising campaign?
   3. New Awesome Partners: Both Asian Pacific College and University of the
   Philippines signed up as our first university partners. They will develop
   new learning activities and tools for the XO laptop and provide technical
   support when needed.  Milbank Tweed also signed up as our legal counsel and
   Bakitwhy.com <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJkGEAn0XoU>  became our
   first media partner, spreading the joys of our work to the world!
   4. 100 XO Laptops launched: On November 24, 2010, 100 XO laptops were
   deployed in two schools on the island of Lubang, Mindoro. Children are
   learning fractions and entrepreneurship skills using the Finance Activity on
   the XO Laptop. They are accessing wikipedia to learn about biofuels and
   preserving Lubang's woodlands. They are recording and taking photos of
   Lubang's heritage sites to learn about their history. They are learning with
   the XO laptop outside the classroom and in the school garden, beach front,
   and town center! Truly inspirational. Check out the photos: Launch
   Ceremony Album<http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=245467&id=124104424149>
   5. Philippines Sec. of Education, Bro. Armin Luistro's great surprise: On
   Dec 6, 2010, we shared our work with the world with a formal launching that
   was attended by the Philippine's Secretary of Education, government
   officials, major media outlets, donors and supporters. In reference to the
   OLPC pilot, Sec. Luistro said "we were struck by this. We always thought
   that the best ideas were in Manila, in a first-class city with lots of
   money. But to our great surprise, what we thought was only possible was
   already a reality in Lubang."  Photos:
here<http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=248785&id=124104424149>;
   Press: here<http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=638356&publicationSubCategoryId=90>
   6. TED talks!  This past December, our Education Guru, Tessa Yuvienco
   spoke at TedxManila as a TED speaker. What an honor! We do our best to tell
   our story and our passion to rethink and innovate education for all children
   in the Philippines. Check out the picture at TED: team
photo<http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=483549129149&set=a.430996824149.204057.124104424149>

What a year! This all became possible because of your support. However, we
are humbled by the long journey ahead. After all, this is not about
parachuting technologies into classrooms. It is about providing a meaningful
education that will position our children for success as the next leaders,
life-long learners, problem solvers and change makers of the 21st century.
 With this said, this year is about doing things better!

This year, we want to include you more. Please join the conversation about
educating our children. Ask questions. If you feel inspired, email us at
community at ekindling.org about starting a fundraiser or volunteering as a
developer or entrepreneur. If you know movers and shakers, CSR programs, or
philanthropic organizations, connect us to them. The journey is long, but
it's exciting! And we invite you to join!

There's a lot in store for us in 2011 and with your support, extraordinary
possibilities will turn into reality. Again, on behalf of Education
Kindling, we hope you have a warm, fuzzy, and prosperous new year!

Cheers,

Ryan Letada
Executive Director
Education Kindling (eKindling)
FB <http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/eKindling/124104424149?ref=ts> |
TW<http://www.twitter.com/ekindling>
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