Back Story

*This is the information that was used in 2011.


History of Technology Partnership

Technology Partnership was started by Barbara and Steve Bates. They first connected with John Kamwara, an educator in Kenya, in 2004 when they ventured to Meru to see how they could help. The next year they went back to deliver 75 donated computers and 100 boxes of books to distribute throughout the area. That same year Mr. Kamwara became the Kenyan director of Technology Partnership. In 2007 more computers were delivered and in 2008 Mr. Kamwara had the opportunity to visit the USA. He traveled from Kenya seeking to connect with people in the United States working with technology and education.

In 2010 Technology Partnership became an official non-profit and together with DeVry University and Douglas, Wyoming Rotary Club delivered 300 computers to 30 schools and trained 150 teachers in the use of computers for education. They also began a collaboration with Diana Sabreen's group, Shoot Cameras Not Guns, whose collaboration resulted in a trip to Kenya that taught students all over the area photography skills.

Meeting John Kamwara

On December 11th 2008, Mr. Kamwara found his way to the office of Brandon Berman, director of the Multimedia Graphic Design department of Front Range Community College. Mr. Berman has always been an advocate and an innovator bringing new technology to the students and advancing their learning through cutting-edge technology. They spent the day together talking about education and sharing the possibilities of future collaboration.

Meeting Barbara Bates

Mr. Berman later met the Codirector of Technology Partnership 501(c), Barbara Bates, who is a full-time educator at DeVry University. She informed and supported the fruition of this project by sharing experiences and insight from the projects they were currently doing with Mr. Kamwara in Kenya. From this, the From Their Perspective Project (FTP) finally took shape as Mr. Berman and a group of passionate friends students, and teachers prepare to make the journey to Meru, Kenya on June 28th, 2011.

From Their Perspective

The FTP project evolved from the original concept of bringing computers to Kenya and teaching basic computer skills to the idea of also bringing video cameras and editing software. We are about to embark on this adventure to Meru, Kenya to teach and work creatively with high school students, showing them how to make participatory videos. Participatory video is a method of allowing communities to make accessible powerful videos to aid in communication and sharing problems and perspectives surrounding various issues that impact them. The whole time we will document this process ourselves and share our story as well as theirs. We are working with many educators to explore the connections between education, technology, and community. We are deeply moved by the possibilities that stand before us and our hopes of uncovering and sharing these cultural and societal stories from the perspective of students in Meru.

Connections

Our intention is to help forage global connections among students across the world through the power of video. We are looking into connecting with local schools around Colorado of all grade levels to see if we can link them up with students in Kenya to share and exchange knowledge by setting up video conferencing and giving students the power to make educational and creative videos for one another. One of our group members is Autumn Montgomery who works as a librarian at Golden's Ralston Elementary and they are excited to partner with us in this pursuit.

Goals


Where Donations Go

This website is meant share our enthusiasm about this project and to invite you, our friends and community, to donate to this vision. Equipment will be given and knowledge will be exchanged. Monetary donations or lap tops would be greatly appreciated.

Flip or Flip like cameras:

$160 x 14 units = $2240

Two 13 in MacBook Pros with 7200 RPM hard drives

$1800 x 2 units = $ 3600

The cameras and laptop will be donated to two schools in Meru. We also hope to have enough to purchase to licenses of Final Cut Pro, professional editing software.

Each of us have purchased our own plane ticket. We would use travel money for a car to share while we are visiting. If we are fortunate enough to have an abundance of donations we would start to look at compensation for airfare and accommodations.

Testimonial

Students and teachers in these schools would love to learn what is taught in the US schools and how it is taught. What equipment do you use and much more than you can imagine! Kenya is Not a developed country like the US it is a developing country with limited resources. Apart from Flip cameras, it will be very nice if you bring along lap tops. Each of you could donate an old laptop we could use them to teach teachers how to prepare lessons using them, carry into classrooms and deliver a better lesson.

John Kamwara - Director, Technology Partnership

Copyright © 2011