Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club
Best Darn Club in the World
It’s February 4 and we arrive in Antigua in 10 days. 14 students and 8 adults will install 300 computer systems, setup wifi networks at multiple schools, start a new sewing center and furnish a library.
The big change is that Rotary’s emphasis on training has hit this project. Hundreds of teachers and administrators will receive extensive training on how to best reach curriculum goals by using computers. This training is part of the grant and will be provided by an outside trainer/facilitator.
As a Rotarian from the BBRC, who visited Antigua in 2013 and documented the project in video, I thought it was a hugely rewarding effort. Many of the updates you see here describe the experience very well. Here is a final video to help visualize the adventure:
Bellevue Breakfast Rotarians volunteered and helped fund the upgrade of two new duplex apartments for KITH, (Kirkland Interfaith Housing) for families trying to avoid homelessness in March 2014. Over 10 volunteers from BBRC and Kirkland Downtown Rotary painted the interior of a residence as a group project and had a great time putting paint to the walls. We look forward to our next community service project like this. Here’s some video:
We brought along some new and used smart boards this trip. Below you’ll see the progression of one of our students outlining where it goes, leveling the mounting bracket, adjusting the projector and then another one of our students instructing a teacher on how to use it (there’s no picture of the board going up on the bracket because I was helping lift it).
They’re pretty cool devices and new to Antigua (FYI, every school in the Bellevue and Lake Washington districts has one in every classroom, not just in every school). You can use it as a touch screen to control the computer, write on it and then save what you wrote (to the computer) and much more.
We furnished two libraries with computer labs, books, furniture and smart boards. Below is the library room from Piggots Primary School (another room with 12 computers and a smart board is next door).
At the “handing over” ceremony I turned the tables on the kids. During my remarks I said the ceremony and the library were really about them, not the results. I had them stand up and I took their picture. I think it also cured some restlessness after a few speeches.
And, of course, the ribbon cutting! Phillip Harris, past-president of the Rotary Club of Antigua, Mrs. Crofts, principal, and Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, Minister of Education.
After some technology issues here are some more updates. Below is a picture of some happy kids, with their goofy faces, after getting their illustrated dictionary.
One new thing we’re doing this year is giving some schools a pre-dictionary quiz. In June they’ll get another quiz and we’ll have some metrics on how well the books are received, how the kids are learning, etc.
The teachers like it. A couple asked for our quiz because they found it well put together (thank my daughter-in-law Amanda for that) and want to more quizzes similar.
We presented the Ministry of Health with seven defibrillators and many boxes of testing supplies for blood pressure, diabetes and pap smears. They just don’t have the money for the supplies. All of the preceding will also have training for the medical people and the citizens.
Computer lab installations are ahead of schedule.
February 17, 2014
We arrived in Antigua Saturday about 4 pm their time. Our 5 hour layover in Miami turned into a 4 hour delay in Seattle. Glad we were able to use the Delta Sky Club (even though flying on American) and that we had the long layover.
Below are three pictures. Our crew of students who started working in the schools today, installing computers and smart boards in the three “interactive learning centers,” two of which are connected to new libraries that we helped furnish.
The other two pictures are from our first day of dictionary distribution. I guess it’s safe to day that the kids were happy to get their books!
Saturday June 29, 2013 – Saturday June 29, 2013
2380 Bellevue Way SE
Description:
Another work party continuing the BBRC’s mission to support the Mercer Slough
Download the Work Party information and directions: [wpdm_file id=5]
