Computers For Temple Literacy Project
Ven. Ne and his students, Photo: courtesy of daitangkinhvietnam
April 1, 2010 - As of 2010 our temple literacy project at Wat Phum Thom
is well anchored. We have a solid team- monks and villagers-working to keep kids
off the streets away from drugs and getting them excited
about learning and school.
The success of the project leads me to dream a little more and I would like to dare further with expanding the scope of the project. At this time I am working on connecting with other organizations to secure computers for the Wat Phum Thom pagoda. While resisting the influence and impacts of modernizations that comes with drugs and gang-related activities the villagers also realized that modernization also have its blessings that come in the forms of digital connections, and I hope this grass-root village project can participate in this modernization boon soon so that the students can have a bridge to the outside world and access the public and universal knowledge that everyone else can with a computer and the Internet.
With the excitement of this boon in mind, I started researching for Computer donation groups last month.
My first try was ComputerAid International. I was really excited by their mission statement to reduce poverty through practical ICT solutions and donating PC to third world countries.
I applied to their program and sent ComputerAid a letter explaining the village project. Through a correspondence with ComputerAid's representative, Ms. Patricia Del Riowa, I found that each desktop cost a whopping £42 a piece with additional shipping fees. In addition, the minimum quantity that can be ordered was 10 computers.
I was a bit disappointed-that's £420 plus shipping! What I had in mind was 3 desktop computers and $100.00 that I would raise (from my own checking account of course). I thought about shifting some of the burden to the villagers, but to imagine that they could even help in this endeavor is unrealistic for me. £420 is about $641.00 and that in turn is actually over 12 million Vietnamese Dongs!
As a student, I don't know where else to turn. I am at a dead end. No money, no computers.
My next stop will be at World Computer Exchange. I hope to have better luck there. After realizing that there won't be anyway forward without money, I am occupied at the moment with working up a fundraising strategy to get the computers.
This all the update for now, from me, Don Lam, International Public Outreach Spokesman for the Phum Thom Literacy Project, from Raleigh N.C of the U.S and A.
If you're interested in helping, contact me or contact the temple directly [be prepare to speak Vietnamese or Khmer- the monks don't speak English] at 84-944493228. Speak to Venerable Thach Ne.
