Dana Oshiro

One Laptop Per Child is a project created by the MIT media labs dedicated to helping children in developing countries gain access to education via a sturdy wind-up laptop. They are trying to get the cost of producing this laptop down to $100 per computer; however, for a limited time if the general public in the US or Canada decides they'd like to purchase one for themselves or a child they know, another gets donated to a child in need. The total cost of the "Give a Laptop Get a Laptop" purchase is $400. This is alot of money, but when you think about how much money it costs to buy a regular laptop (usually in the $1000+ range) it's actually not a bad deal.

According to the MIT team, many of the children who receive these laptops take them home and teach the whole family how to use them. Often it is the only source of light in their homes. I thought about my friend in Ghana who worked with Reporters Without Borders. This would be an amazing tool as it has a built-in camera, built-in wireless internet connection and can switch between color and monochrome screens in order to be used in direct sunlight. Citizen journalists can cover an election and rebroadcast it without being censored.

I thought about the doctors and aid workers I saw traveling through South Africa who treat children with rare rashes and diseases. Imagine having a Guatemalan doctor halfway across the world recognize the ailment and make recommendations. This can change people's lives. While we know that classroom learning is for the most part the best way to educate kids, and that in-person medical attention is the best way to get treated, this isn't a bad alternative. There are millions of at-risk kids in the world, there is simply no way every single one of them can get the attention they need. This can help bridge the gap.