By , Special to JTNews
Eight students from Garfield High School are currently participating in “Project: Gambia,” a collaboration of Rotary International, Computers for the World (C4W) and GambiaHELP. For the past year, the team has rebuilt, organized, packed and shipped 70 computers for impoverished schools in Gambia, West Africa.
On Feb. 16, Project: Gambia will leave for Africa to set up two computer labs. This unique project began last year when Garfield Senior Dave Gertler took the initiative along with teacher and advisor Kjell-Jon Rye to organize a team for a C4W mission. C4W and Garfield have collaborated in the past on numerous similar projects to places such as the Philippines, Guatemala, Mozambique and Russia.
Under the leadership of former Jewish Day School student Laura Kanter and Dave Gertler, the students have refurbished computers, monitors, mice and keyboards donated by Premera Blue Cross. They cleaned, replaced and installed necessary programs and packed the computers with donated clothing that was shipped to Gambia in December of 2001.
By American standards these Pentium computers are outdated, but in a less developed country like Gambia they are prized. “There is a definite gap between countries that have technology and those who don’t,” said teacher Kjell-Jon Rye. “That gap is growing wider every year and will continue to grow without the help of the countries that are in a position to give.”
When the students arrive in Gambia, they will not only create the computer labs but also instruct students and teachers on how to maintain the technology. “Teaching the students technology allows them to be independent and keep the lab running by themselves even when we’re gone,” said sophomore team member Katy Barnhart.
The students have gained much more than experience with computers, but more importantly have learned life lessons. Laura Kanter said, “In addition to all of the technical skills I’ve learned, I now know that being a leader is a lot harder than it looks. There is so much going on, all at once, and in a thousand different directions. But it gives me more confidence in myself, knowing that I can do it.”