[OLPC_Boston] Sat. May 30th Newburyport XO Play Day and Demos and African Culture Celebration

[Sandra Thaxter]

*One Laptop Per Child XO Laptop Lab and African Culture Celebration:*

*Come and try out the laptop for kids that revolutionizes learning in
developing countries*.



 Small Solutions is sponsoring an African Culture and  XO event on Saturday
May 30th 1:30 - 4:30 at the Unitarian Universalist Chuch in the Lower
Meeting House on Pleasant Street Newburyport.  There will be many XOs to try
as well as African food, crafts and music.



Here is a chance to try out a unique smart robust laptop created just for
children. It is called the XO and was developed by the One Laptop Per Child
Foundation in Cambridge Massachusetts.  This is not just a laptop, it is an
educational tool that can transform the future of children in developing
countries. Over 600,000 of these laptops have been distributed in Central
and South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Photos from some of
these projects will be on display



Children, teachers and families are invited to come and learn, try out
games, Turtle Math, make movies, make music or draw. During the afternoon,
there will be demonstrations of the learning applications created for the XO
and its child friendly interface called "Sugar" by Dr. Cynthia Solomon and
Alan Papert.



Dr Cynthia Solomon is a pioneer in the field of computer science and
educational computing.  Cynthia, along with Seymour Papert and other created
Logo the first programming language for children.  She has maintained a long
relationship with the MIT Media Lab and the One Laptop Per Child Foundation
where she was recently Director of Learning Activities.



Alan Papert, an engineer by training, served as president and engineering
director in General Turtle, a company formed to provide an early form of the
tools provided by OLPC to the education community. He has maintained a keen
interest in education and the use of technology for learning.



There will be a "Create an EcoBag Design" contest using the XO to draw or
compose a picture and text on the theme of a Child's Right to Clean Water.
The winners will have their picture imprinted on grocery recycle  eco bags
to be sold to earn money for XO Africa projects.



Small Solutions believes that technology and access to information is a
critical bridge for developing countries to survive economically.  In Africa
and many other developing countries the youth population is more than
50%.  Many
of these young people are not receiving the education and skills to
participate in the future of their country.



This event is a benefit for Small Solutions (www.smallsolutionsbigideas.org)
XO projects in rural communities in Africa.





 Small Solutions Big Ideas

"Education and Connectivity for All"

www.smallsolutionsbigideas.org

Sandra Thaxter

1-617-320-1098
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