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Initative
Made Possible by the Alliance for Global Learning and SchoolNet South
Africa
New
Crossroads, Cape Town, South Africa...April 9, 1999. San
Francisco Youth Commissioner Francisco Castillo today announced the
launch of an educational technology initiative in South Africa by
the Alliance for Global Learning. Castillo made the announcement
during a visit to Nomlinganiselo Primary School in New Crossroads,
Cape Town, South Africa. This program was announced as part
of the Bay Area African Trade and Friendship Mission to Southern Africa
which is promoting partnerships between organizations in South Africa
and California.
"Through this
effort, we hope to open up windows of opportunity for teachers and
students here in South Africa--and to promote friendships and partnerships
between schools in South Africa and schools in the Bay Area," said
Castillo.
Through the help
of the Alliance and SchoolNet South Africa, Nomlinganiselo
Primary School will be opening a computer center with a Pentium PC
and
large-screen TV from the Alliance, along with several donated computers
that have been refurbished and networked by SchoolNet South Africa.
The partnership between the Alliance for Global Learning and SchoolNet
South Africa will provide 100 additional schools with computer equipment,
Internet access, training, and support over the next two years.
The Alliance brings
together three international organizations dedicated to
connecting schools worldwide: the International Education and Resource
Network (I*EARN), Schools Online, and World Links for Development
(WorLD).
Based in San Jose, California, Schools Online developed a relationship
with
the Bay Area Africa Trade Friendship Mission which led to today's
announcement.
SchoolNet SA is
an organization established in 1997 to assist all South Africans in
preparing for the information society. "SchoolNet has been implementing
the WorLD program in South Africa since early 1998, while I*EARN's
South African interest extends even further back to the first South
African conference on the Internet, the Educational Computing Conference
held in 1995, where I*EARN Director Ed Gragert delivered the keynote
address," commented SchoolNet's Cape Town representative, Stephen
Marquard. "Schools Online started discussing plans with us in January
1999, so we're delighted that these three organizations have now joined
forces," he continued.
The Alliance for
Global Learning aims to enhance teaching and learning, promote equal
access to communication and information technologies in the developing
world and foster global citizenship and understanding.
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For more information:
Michael Chertok,
Schools Online
408-501-0788
michael@schoolsonline.org
Janine Firpo
World Links for Development
415-282-0295
jfirpo@aol.com
Ed Gragert
I*EARN
212/870-2693
ed1@us.iearn.org
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