I first read about the one laptop per child project (www.laptop.org) in the Economist, and then saw a guy in the library demonstrating one of the sturdy little laptops (right) designed for kids in poor countries.
I decided that when I get my "recession rebate" or whatever this tax-return money George W. & Co. are sending Americans is called, I'm going to buy a kid a laptop. They cost $200.
Like Marjane Satrapi (author of Persepolis), I may not believe in much, but I believe in education.
From the OLPC site:
“This is not just a matter of giving a laptop to each child, as if bestowing on them some magical charm. The magic lies within—within each child, within each scientist-, scholar-, or just-plain-citizen-in-the-making. This initiative is meant to bring it forth into the light of day.”—Kofi Annan (who went to college here in the Twin Cities)
“I want to thank you people because you had given us the laptop and I love it so much. It's very good. Because you can see lots of things.” --a real kid
You would, you darling creature. . .give up $200 for a laptop for a kid. This convinces me that it IS the practically poor who give the most.. .My respect and admiration!!
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