History, purpose, and administration of AnyGorad Children's Boarding School and Orphanage Four
The AnyGorad Boarding School Orphanage Number Four was built in 1959 for a population of two hundred students. It currently houses 419 children. AnyGorad Boarding School Four is unique in that it is strictly for orphans. The orphanage belongs to the city of AnyGorad.
The orphanage provides shelter, nourishment, and education for children who otherwise would live abandoned on the streets of AnyGorad. Children are brought to the orphanage for one of three reasons:
Children range in ages six to eighteen years old, grades one through eleven. The orphanage serves orphans from the AnyGorad region.
The orphanage falls under the administration of the AnyGorad Minister of Education.
The AnyGorad Ukrainian Minister of Education owns the building and is responsible
for the health and welfare of the children. The AnyGorad Ukrainian Minister
of Education: operates the facility; has legal custody of the children, and
hires and pays all directors, teachers, and staff.
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Activity Planning Questions
1) Where will the computer and peripherals be housed? How have you addressed
security of the equipment? The computers will be housed in large classroom.
The room has bars on the windows and a thick steel door. It is locked with a
huge 4-inch padlock that was recently purchased. The keys have been given to
only two people who are trusted in the facility, chairman, and the director
of education.
2) Who will be responsible for maintenance and trouble-shooting? What measures
have been planned to ensure maintenance and technical support of the system?
Local computer professionals Name and Name have agreed to assist with the continued
maintenance of the computers. Also computers purchased from the retailer "Computer"
have a two-year guarantee against defects.
3) What is your power supply? (electricity, generator, solar power, battery,
etc.) The power supply is electricity
4) What is the planned mode of internet connectivity? (Telephone, satellite
dish, cable, short wave, etc.) The computers will have a dial up connections
that is 50% donated by a local internet provider.
5) Who is your planned Internet Service Provider (ISP) Computer http://www.AnyGorad.net
Pushkiskaya AnyGorad, Ukraine 00000 Telephone: 0000-0000
6) How will the community group meet recurring costs? (On-going maintenance,
electricity or power supply, ink, paper, diskettes, and internet connection
after the first two years, etc.) Internet timeThe orphanage plans to cover reoccurring
costs through the local community. The orphanage is located in a large housing
district over two kilometers from the nearest Internet cafe. The location of
the orphanage is ideal for an Internet café after hours of school and
during summer vacation. Internet users will be charged the average rate of $0.60
to $1.00 per hour. The unlimited Internet connection that the local director
of Internet provider is offering the orphanage is as good or better than the
majority of Internet cafes in the city. This allows the orphanage to use the
computers to plug in headphone/ microphones and use web based programs to call
internationally for free, which provides another, greater source of revenue
for the orphanage, with average rates for internet telephones in town between
$1.00-$3.00 an hour.Across the street from the orphanage is the elementary school
95 for children ages 7-10. Within a ten minute walk is secondary school number
31 for children ages 10-17. Both school directors are interested in using the
orphanage computers to teach their students for a small fee every month, to
help pay for Internet costs. These fees gathered from the Internet will help
sustain the cost of any future repair, future software and future Internet time.
This money will also help support the cost of a staff member to monitor the
computers after hours.
7) Who is your computer vendor? ComputerPushkinskaya 3 AnyGorad, Ukraine Telephone:
000-00000
8) How do you intend to get your equipment safely to its destination? Orphanage
van, escorted by five people
9) What community identified priority does this Peace Pack Grant activity address?
(What is the primary planned use of the equipment and connectivity?) The lack
of computers is a major barrier to the education of all of the children in the
orphanage. A computer lab for the AnyGorad orphanage addresses four identified
priorities that have been recognized by the staff and students of the orphanage:First
The Internet is unavailable at the boarding school and the orphans are unable
to afford the travel expense or pay the fee at local Internet cafes. Second
Required textbooks for classes are almost impossible to find.Third Currently
older students undertake vocational training in which they are taught woodworking,
sewing, and metal work. This current training doesn't provide the orphans with
any technological basis and is outdated. The absence of computer training prevents
the orphanage from successfully achieving one of its main priorities: preparing
the orphans to enter the job market and/or compete for admission to higher educational
institutions.Fourth The Ukrainian Minister of education rules change incredibly
often with new instructions, new tests, new rules. Students and teachers are
currently ill prepared for state required tests because the mail system is so
poor and needed materials sometimes take over two months to arrive.
Primary planned use of the equipment and connectivityIn order to remedy the
four problems above and achieve its goals to teach children hands on computer
skills, keep the orphanage up to date with the best available textbooks, teach
students technical vocational skills, and keep up to date on required tests
and information, the orphanage needs computer equipment and Internet access.
This could be accomplished primarily through the acquisition of thirteen computers.
These computers will be used for general classroom use by the 419 children at
the boarding school. The average class size is twenty-three students. Twelve
computers will allow every student in every class to share one computer with
one other student during their lab hours. The thirteenth computer, the computer
server, is required for the network server and the teacher. The orphanage has
the goal of computers helping the students and staff by:· Students will
have assistance in learning a foreign language. The available language tutoring
programs and websites available are vast. Computer access will reinforce the
importance of learning a foreign language through chat rooms and conversing
with native language speakers overseas. This will help students learn foreign
languages in an enjoyable, entertaining setting.· Students will be able
to write reports for a variety of classes.· With the help of Internet
time, computers will allow students to bypass the poor library and easily access
needed information and research. · The orphanage plans to assemble a
library of educational software including; math, typing, foreign language, encyclopedias,
dictionaries, atlases, etc. · Faculty and student training in the use
of computer technologies, specifically use of the Internet, as a means of both
research and communication· Teachers will be able to write and print
course materials for students, discuss important topics with other teachers
throughout the world, and gather research material on the Internet for class
use.· Computers will help existing vocational programs by helping teachers
gather more information via the web about woodworking, sewing, and metal work.·
Instruct teachers in the use of computers, including use of the Internet, as
a means to better teach students. For example in such sciences as physics, mathematics,
biology, chemistry. The science department is very supportive of this idea.
They have a list already made of programs they would like to purchase.·
For Ukrainian literature classes it is extremely difficult to find and expensive
to buy books. Computers will allow the orphanage to buy disks that are readily
available and that have all of the required stories/novels on disk. ·
The orphanage will hold an accelerated training course to instruct twelve teachers
basic computer applications. These individuals will then act as computer instructors
to their students and other teachers of the orphanage. These courses will be
taught three times a week, two hours a week, for the duration of three months.
Subjects to be covered are listed below. Courses will be taught by Jabe Doe
, and Jane Doe a computer teacher volunteer. These courses are already in place
on a more limited scale. Currently these three individuals train four to five
graduated orphans bi-weekly on two five-year-old computers. John Doe, a US XX
Volunteer, will also supervise the courses. These training sessions will also
be taught by IREX, which has committed to teaching one of the three courses
weekly free of charge. IREX is the International Research and Exchange Board.
It is a United States Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs program located
throughout Ukraine (www.iatp.org.ua). IREX has committed to teaching these courses
for the entire school year.
· The Ukrainian Minister of education policies change extremely often with new instructions, new tests, and new rules. This is a consistent problem for the orphanage.For example:o A new test for mathematics was published by the Ukrainian minister of education. This test was issued in February 1999, and the orphanage didn't receive it in the mail until the end of April. The exam was in May. With only a month before the test the orphanage teachers had no time to prepare the students for the exam. With this information available online and computers in the school, when a similar situation happens in the future, the teachers and students of the orphanage will have two months more study and preparation time available.o In 1997-1998 the minister of education changed the requirements for Ukrainian literature. The list was of over fifty authors, some of the required reading was 200 pages long. The list was received one month before the test. According to the director of education in the orphanage, a teacher usually needs six months with the required list before the test for the students to prepare and do well on the test. All of these Ukrainian Minister of education tests, rules, and instructions are available on the Internet.
General Course Syllabus for the first two weeks of computer classes
The first week of courses will teach those children over ten years old the
following basic computer skills:
· About Hardware including: Components of a PC, CPU, Disk Drives and
CD ROM's, RAM, Keyboard, Mouse, Printers
· Software: Operating Systems and Windows, Overview of different types
of Application
· Introduction to Windows: What is Windows, The use of the Mouse, Menus,
Commands and Dialog boxes, Using Help, Using the Keyboard, Accessories- Calculator,
Notepad
· Basic Set-up of a PC: Files and Folders, System Files
· Terminology
The second week courses will be devoted to an introduction to the Internet:
· Introduction to the Internet: Common Terminology, The World Wide Web,
Browsers and how they work, Web sites
· "Hands On": Browsing the World Wide Web, Navigating: using
links; using browser toolbar; using URLs; using shortcuts, Getting Help
· Searching the Web: Search Engines, Common browser errors messages,
Saving Data from the Internet, Bookmarking pages, Understanding Addresses
· Saving and Printing: Saving and retrieving a web page, Saving a web
graphic, Retrieving a saved graphic, Printing a web page
· Using Email
This general course syllabus is based upon local schools current curriculum
for computer teaching. Those children under ten years old will have slower paced
computer training.
In the following weeks, courses will include the following:
· Typing, Word processing, Microsoft Excel and spreadsheets, Web design,
Microsoft Desktop
10) Does this activity contribute to your XX primary project assignment? Briefly
describe the contribution. X YES q NOYes. This project is directly related to
my XX primary project assignment. My job assignment is to try and better the
lives of the children of AnyGorad Orphanage Number Four. It has been the most
deeply rewarding, and yet at times, the most frustrating job I have ever done
in my entire life. I am certain without any doubt that these computers will
give the children better and more equal educational opportunities. It will truly
open up a new world of information and help bring America into their classrooms
and into their lives, part of the XX mission. Years after I have returned home,
the training that we plan to give these children and teachers will be utilized
and passed onto others to learn from. Building this kind of sustainable project
will be the pinnacle of my service here in Ukraine.
11) List the tasks you and the community group will undertake to accomplish
this activity.(For example: establish bank account for administering on-going
payments, determining method of fiscal accountability to group (who has signing
authority and what is the check and balance system), create method of income-generation
to cover recurring costs, institute access policies, discuss ethical internet
usage, schedule training classes, initiate email relationships with other schools
or organizations, translate materials, design a website) The computer room has
already been completed and is awaiting the computers. Three local furniture
companies have already donated five tables as in-kind donations. The first telephone
line has been installed from a donation from a local telephone company. All
locks are installed, and windows are barred. For security, the computer lab
is located on the third floor.Implementation of the project will occur in four
steps:Stage 1. (Two weeks) -- contacting equipment suppliers to compare prices,
terms (e.g., warranties), and equipment quality. Followed by the purchase of
computers by local computer expert John Doe, and John Doe Orphanage Director
of Education. John Doe is well connected in the local computer community and
can get computers for incredibly cheap prices.Stage 2. (One month) -- purchasing
and arranging for delivery of equipment.Stage 3. (Two months) -- installing,
testing, and fine-tuning equipment and system set-upAccelerated three month
computer training seminar with twelve teachers conducted by community professionals
begins. The recipients of this training will use the skills they have learned
and assist in future training of orphans and staff. Development of a curriculum
for orphan's vocational training and supplemental education. Stage 4. (Three
months)Within three months of the purchase of the computers children under ten
will have had at least three hours per week of prepared lectures, with children
over ten having five or more hours per week. Continuous Daily computer training
will be held for all students.
The orphanage staff and faculty comments will be regularly solicited on the
progress in implementing this project. This will be done via monthly progress
reports provided to XX and other interested persons including the orphanage's
faculty and staff for review and comment. Weekly meetings, already ongoing for
the past year and a half, will discuss progress, problems, and desired outcomes
of the computer program. The curriculum and training of trainers will be constantly
updated of based on the assessment of student's needs. The staff of the orphanage
will continue to develop and expand core curriculums for providing students
with vocational computer training.
Project Team PrinciplesThis project will be administered by a team comprised
of:John Doe, AnyGorad Boarding School and Orphanage Four Director.Jane Doe has
seventeen years of educational experience. She has another seventeen years of
experience managing AnyGorad school districts.John Doe, Director of Education,
AnyGorad Boarding School and Orphanage Four.John Doe has worked at the AnyGorad
Boarding School and Orphanage Four for fourteen years in a variety of positions.
----Members of the project team will meet weekly to plan and implement the specific
steps necessary to achieve the project goals outlined in this proposal.Project
OversightThis project will be subject to ongoing review by:For the past one
and a half years, ....have been working within the orphanage to establish an
educational program and better standard of living for these children. This program
is entitled ...... will oversee the grant implantation. .....
12) Does the community group have the skills required to undertake the activity?
If not, what specific skills or training are needed and how will it be provided?
The orphanage does have the skills required to undertake this activity.Training
courses will be taught by John Doe, and John Doe a computer teacher volunteer.
After purchasing the computers, the first three months will be dedicated to
teaching teachers how to effectively instruct other teachers and their students
computer skills.
13) How does the activity contribute to building capacity within the community?
This activity builds capacity within the community by teaching valuable technological
skills that students can use in their future higher education or their future
employment. By having the internet the students and teachers will also be more
prepared and better educated to take state required exams.
14) How do you expect the community group to be affected or changed as a result
of this activity? The staff of the orphanage expect the children and teachers
of the orphanage to be changed as a result of these computers through these
specific objectives:· All 65 teachers and teacher assistant's of the
orphanage will have had three month computer training either by the volunteer
computer teachers, or by other teachers that have been taught to be computer
instructors.· All 419 students will have had computer training by their
trained teachers. · Every February, the tenth and eleventh grade students
take National Exams to get into higher education institutions. A specific objective
of the orphanage is to have the 2001-2002 school year National Exams test scores
of these seventy orphans increase by 20% compared to previous tenth and eleventh
graders. This increase will be attributed to the fact that the necessary course
material, updated tests, and necessary reading can currently be found on the
Internet. With the Internet the school will not have to depend on the unreliable
postal system or shortage of certain books. This will allow teachers better
preparation time and will give students more time to study the required materials.
· Because of the resources available on the Internet, all state sponsored
tests scores taken by the children of the Internet are also expected to increase.·
With computer trainers, the orphanage will develop a curriculum for teachers
to teach students computer skills.