Computer Lab in the Sky
Donation protected
Welcome to Computer Lab in the Sky! We are a solar-powered computer lab at a high school in the mountains of rural Lesotho.
My name is Miriam Hodgkins. About seven years ago, I served with the US Peace Corps in the Thaba-Tseka district of Lesotho. I made lots of good friends and resolved that one day I would return. I came up with the idea to install a computer lab at Masaleng High School, where as a Peace Corps Volunteer I had run a successful English Club. I knew the teachers were motivated and would invest themselves in the establishment of a computer lab at their school.
In late April 2019 I arrived back in Lesotho. My first task was to figure out how to power the computer lab. Masaleng village is completely off the grid. I hired a local company based out of Maseru, the capitol, The Solar Company Lesotho . They installed four large solar panels, two batteries, a controller, inverter, and six outlets. We have enough power to support many laptops and a printer.
When I first arrived, I had about USD$4K of unsolicited seed money. This helped pay for the solar panels and three refurbished laptops that I bought in Maseru. My grandmother donated a fourth. That’s where we’re at now, and it’s been great.
However, we could do so much more. Class sizes are limited to eight, which means that so far only Grades 11 and 12 have benefited from the computer lab. There are about 20 students in Grade 10, and we simply can’t accommodate such a large group. We’ve also been hosting Adult Education classes on weekends and holidays, and these have been growing in popularity, especially among teachers and recent high school graduates who are struggling to find a job. We don’t want to turn anyone away who feels inspired to acquire new skills.
That’s where you come in. We’re asking for $6,255.
Here is a rough estimate of how your funds will be used:
$3K will pay for more refurbished laptops.
$1K will pay for associated accessories, such as cases, cordless mice, and software programs.
$1K will pay for a printer/copier, paper, and extra ink.
The final $1,255 will be used to assist with personal expenses related to the computer lab, primarily the flight home to Colorado when the time comes.
Donations of $25 or more will be recognized with a personalized thank-you letter written, typed, and printed by one of our newly computer literate students! Please donate before February 15, 2020 to receive a letter!
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your generosity. Please do not hesitate to share this campaign. A little goes a long way, especially in Lesotho.
To learn more about Computer Lab in the Sky, check out our website or find us on Facebook and Instagram .
My name is Miriam Hodgkins. About seven years ago, I served with the US Peace Corps in the Thaba-Tseka district of Lesotho. I made lots of good friends and resolved that one day I would return. I came up with the idea to install a computer lab at Masaleng High School, where as a Peace Corps Volunteer I had run a successful English Club. I knew the teachers were motivated and would invest themselves in the establishment of a computer lab at their school.
In late April 2019 I arrived back in Lesotho. My first task was to figure out how to power the computer lab. Masaleng village is completely off the grid. I hired a local company based out of Maseru, the capitol, The Solar Company Lesotho . They installed four large solar panels, two batteries, a controller, inverter, and six outlets. We have enough power to support many laptops and a printer.
When I first arrived, I had about USD$4K of unsolicited seed money. This helped pay for the solar panels and three refurbished laptops that I bought in Maseru. My grandmother donated a fourth. That’s where we’re at now, and it’s been great.
However, we could do so much more. Class sizes are limited to eight, which means that so far only Grades 11 and 12 have benefited from the computer lab. There are about 20 students in Grade 10, and we simply can’t accommodate such a large group. We’ve also been hosting Adult Education classes on weekends and holidays, and these have been growing in popularity, especially among teachers and recent high school graduates who are struggling to find a job. We don’t want to turn anyone away who feels inspired to acquire new skills.
That’s where you come in. We’re asking for $6,255.
Here is a rough estimate of how your funds will be used:
$3K will pay for more refurbished laptops.
$1K will pay for associated accessories, such as cases, cordless mice, and software programs.
$1K will pay for a printer/copier, paper, and extra ink.
The final $1,255 will be used to assist with personal expenses related to the computer lab, primarily the flight home to Colorado when the time comes.
Donations of $25 or more will be recognized with a personalized thank-you letter written, typed, and printed by one of our newly computer literate students! Please donate before February 15, 2020 to receive a letter!
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your generosity. Please do not hesitate to share this campaign. A little goes a long way, especially in Lesotho.
To learn more about Computer Lab in the Sky, check out our website or find us on Facebook and Instagram .
Organizer
Miriäm Deliriüm
Organizer