Help implement a Digital Library in the Congo DRC

About Bibliothèque Numérique Lokole O Méga (Digital Library)

Bibliothèque numérique Lokole 0 Méga is a project of Ascoderu to bring affordable digital educational materials and email communications to rural communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC.

The Bibliothèque numérique Lokole 0 Méga enables everyone to access the sustainable web and email applications by pooling people's resources and sharing the cost of bandwidth.

The name "Lokole" refers to the slit drum traditionally used for long-distance communication in some areas of the Congo DRC.

Training session on the use of Box Lokole Numérique.

Why Bibliothèque numérique Lokole 0 Méga?

Worldwide there is evidence that the digital divide disables most people from accessing affordable services and technology. For instance, more than 76 million people in the DRC are still unconnected to the Internet (Africa Internet User Stats and 2021 Population by Country (internetworldstats.com). In the DRC, the price of 1GB of data is $1.00 for 48 hrs (Vodacom), almost as much as the average daily income $1.10 (World Bank). With our special developed server called Box Lokole Numérique used in our Bibliothèque Numérique Lokole 0 Méga library, the cost can be as low as $3 per person/month.

Box Lokole Numerique

Today, access to the internet and the digital world is considered critical in promoting sustainable development. For instance, enabling people to connect to the digital world at our Bibliothèque numérique Lokole 0 Méga with Ascoderu enhances and promotes the UN Sustainable Development Goals 9 on the industry, innovation, and infrastructures. While providing sustainable access to digital systems, Ascoderu also enables people to build more resilient and sustainable cities (UN SDG 11).

The Lokole portable devices are being used and demoed in Kinshasa, Congo DRC as street digital libraries.

Only one goal:

The long-term goal is to disseminate education via a digital library using our LOKOLE system throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The immediate goal is to set up a place where local people in Kinshasa, DRC, can access a very affordable (ex. $3/person/month) digital library to study using the stored training and educational videos on the LOKOLE system.  Once the Digital Library has 300 members, it will become self-sufficient, including a salary for the teacher.

We need initial seed funding to pay rent, purchase equipment and pay the initial wages of the Digital Librarian/teacher for six months.

Budget:

1. Operation Costs

    - Facility rental ($100/mo) $  600

    - Utilities cost ($50/mo) $  300 

    - Library supervisor ($300/mo) $1800

    - Technical support ($20/mo) $  120

    - Municipal Taxes ($100/mo) $ 600

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Operation Total ($570/mo) $3420 (for 6 months)

2- Library Equipment

 - 11 x tables and chairs $  220

 - 11 x chairs $  440

- 11 x Android tablets $2200

- 11 x headphones wireless bluetooth  $  220

- 2 x Box Lokole (one is a spare) $  800

- 1 x Large screen (for group presentations) $  120

- 1 x  solar panel charger  $  370

- 1 x Solar battery 12v 100W $  370

-1 x Inverter 12Vdc - 220Vac 1000W $  200

- 1 x Solar panel voltage regulator 12V 30A $    40

- 3 x Extension cord 6 power outlet $   36

- 1 x Fan (to make the room comfortable) $   50

- 1 x Installation and Miscellaneous $ 934

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Total Library Equipment US$6000

TOTAL AMOUNT TO RAISE US$ 9420 ~ C$ 12000

Roadmap:

Stage 1: 

- Secure a room to rent to set up the Digital Library by the end of February

- Purchase equipment for the Digital Library (see Budget above for details)

Stage 2: 

- Train library staff

- Advertise the Digital Library

Stage 3: 

- Start teaching (the Digital Library will be able to support up to 300 "students" per term)

Your support matters

We are a handful of people volunteering to achieve "BIBLIOTHEQUE NUMEIQUE LOKOLE 0 MEGA ". We're grateful for all donations and any amount. If you can support our project in any way, please get in touch at [email redacted]

Your donation helps us reduce the existing digital divide and gives hope to many people who otherwise would not be able to experience the digital world.

Thank you, 

Ascoderu Team.

“The capacity to receive, download and share information through electronic networks, the freedom to communicate freely across national boundaries -- these must become realities for all people.” - Kofi Annan