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A group of 10 from Greater
Portland, OR joined us San Jose, Costa Rica in
February to build 50 computers for four Latin
America ChildCare schools. This is the second team
led by David and Deborah Kaiser, founder of Little
Davey Project, a ministry that exists to provide
computers for poor children in Latin America. The
first Little Davey team built 50 computers for LACC
schools in Panama in May 2005.
The Little Davey Project raised
funds the last several months to purchase the
internal components of the computers: motherboard,
processor, memory and hard drive. The LACC program
in Costa Rica, led by Missionary Associate Bill
Dunton, worked with the local school ministry and
schools to raise funds for the computer cases,
monitors, CD Rom drives, keyboards, mice and
speakers. In addition, the schools had to work to
prepare the new computer classrooms for the new
equipment, improving the electrical system, building
special tables and securing the rooms. Some of the
schools had received donations of used computers in
the past, but many never worked. And those that did
had obsolete software.
All 50 new computers were built
with brand new, top quality components, with the
latest software. We say a special thanks to
Inspiration Software for the donation of the
Kidspiration software. Only a couple of the members
of the team had any technical experience. But it
didn’t matter. After the “techies” prepared the
first hard drive and put together the first
computer, the rest of the team took their places on
the “assembly line.” All of the computers were put
together in just two days!
The team spent the next four days
delivering computers to schools, a different school
each day. Three of the schools are located in the
greater San Jose area. The other school was 3-1/2
hours away in port city of Limon. The team worked
together to unpack computers and put them in place.
Half of the team then visited classrooms to teach
English and enjoy the children. The rest stayed to
run network wire, plug in cables, run a final test
on the equipment and configure the network.
 The
formal English classes and informal visits with
children and staff were a highlight. Although all of
the schools try to teach English, most do so without
good curriculum and experienced teachers. The team’s
class visits helped the children hear English from
first-language English speakers. And the interaction
helped the team connect with the children.
Most of the schools had an
assembly of students and staff to say thank you for
the computers. A highlight was having children come
into their new computer lab and sit down at the
computers. They were in awe of how suddenly the lab
was put together and of the new computers
themselves. Although many had used a computer
before, the majority had not. Only a few at the
Limon school had ever used one. At that school we
asked a couple of boys to sit down for a lesson. A
good group of children gathered around. We gave them
instruction, but these boys didn’t even know how to
use a mouse!
Why would we want to teach
computers to a bunch of poor kids? Why wouldn’t we!
Latin America ChildCare is all about reaching kids
for eternity, but loving them enough not to leave
them in their poverty. Teaching kids computer and
English prepares them to compete in a world that
expects more each day.
Thank you, David and Deborah, for
your vision, generosity and hard work that make
these teams possible. And thank you Bill R., Linda,
Anita, Taylor, Jim, Erin, Jack, Karen and Bill D.
for being such a blessing to so many children and
youth in Costa Rica.
Will there be more “tech” teams
in the future? The answer is yes! David says,
“Little Davey Project is planning on sending two
teams in 2008.”
Are you interested in helping? If
you would be interested in giving towards, being a
part of or bringing a “tech” team please write us at
Panorama@Boyds.org.
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