A laptop donation from my Girl Scout troop

A few weeks ago, my Girl Scout troop (3rd graders) won a laptop.  Another local Girl Scout troop had entered a "doodle for Google" contest and won 20 laptops.  That troop kept one laptop for each girl in the troop, and then gave each troop in Jackson one also.  I spent a lot of time thinking about what to do with that laptop.  I try to infuse my personal philosophy about making sure the girls spend time playing outside into each meeting.  The idea of 12 girls trying to share one laptop seemed difficult to integrate into how I typically run our troop meetings. So, as the trip to Uganda began to materialize, I saw an opportunity. 

For the past few meetings, I had the girls reflect on their favorite gifts that they had received (shortly after the winter break).  I also shared with them that I was going to Uganda and asked them to make cards and write them to a future pen-pal from Uganda.  Then at today's meeting after the girls finished their cards, I told them about the laptop.  I told them that I had a proposal for what we could do with the laptop, but I wanted to hear what they thought too.  I described my idea for the girls (really for our troop) to donate the laptop to a school in Uganda.  There was some discussion, and I asked each girl to share a little bit about what they thought our troop should do.  Comments such as - "I think that the boys and girls there should have an opportunity to learn to use computers just like we do,"  and "they might get tired of hand-writing their homework" were arguments for donating the laptop. 

The biggest opposition to giving the laptop was that the teachers and students in Uganda might not know how to use it.  I promised the girls that I would do my best to teach the teachers and students there how to use the laptop; they were skeptical that I really knew how to use a computer but agreed to let me try.  In the end, everyone agreed that we were proud to be able to give this laptop to those who might not have as much as us. 

As an educator, I wonder... did I lead them to directly to this without letting them have enough buy-in?  Was it developmentally appropriate to share with 3rd graders about how some schools around the world do not have the same resources as my girls are fortunate to have?  I hope I guided these girls in a direction that promotes generosity and sharing.  Ultimately, I hope they know that this laptop is going to a good home.

School Supplies

I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.

- You've Got Mail

The context is different, but new school supplies can bring a smile to about anyone's face.  Donna has been hard at work setting up visits to schools in Uganda.  She's been collecting a range of supplies from many generous folks near Pullman.  We are hoping to take more over.

Here is a list of some types of supplies needed in schools:

• calculators
• spiral bound, composition or other notebooks
• filler paper
• binders
• colored pencils, crayons or markers
• ruler with English and metric measurements
• colored pens
• erasers
• pencil box
• glue sticks
• graph paper
• pens and pencils
• pencil sharpeners (individual and classroom)
• pocket dictionaries
• pencil cases
• reams or boxes of papers
• children's books
• etc.

Please send Donna or I a message or leave a comment on the blog if you are interested sending something to share.  We would value anything that you might offer.  

Cheers,

Leslie

(photo from - http://www.jeanierhoades.com/stuff-i-actually-think/bouquets-of-sharpened-pencils)

Preparing for an adventure!

I first met my friend and traveling companion Donna nearly two and a half years ago.  We met in San Francisco at a gathering of young adults interested in getting more young people outside - called the Natural Leaders Network Summit.  Over a long weekend, we got to be friends.  During the next two years we traveled to youth leadership events across the country and participated in many conference calls together as part of the Natural Leaders Network.  

Then last October Donna came to visit me in Jackson with our mutual friend and Natural Leader, Juan.  The three of us spent a wonderful weekend in Jackson Hole enjoying the fall colors, soaking in hot springs, and sleeping under the stars.  We discussed taking an adventure across the globe and Donna mentioned a few friends that she had in Uganda.

Two weeks later Donna emailed me and asked if I might be interested in taking a trip to Uganda.  With a month of sabbatical to take in February and a strong draw to return to the African continent, it took me about 2 seconds to say "YES!"  

Donna and I corresponded back and forth for the next few weeks, and finally on December 31, 2011, we made the ticket purchase.  We will fly together from the US to Entebbe, Uganda on February 4 - me from Denver, where I'll be visiting friends and family before the trip, and Donna from Spokane, WA.  We are in the final throes of trip planning now looking forward to the trip of a lifetime.  More to come on trips plans and preparations - including visits to several schools in Uganda that we are bringing supplies for.