Goals
LAP will focus on the following key goals:
- Raising Literacy Rates. Increase literacy rates in Sub - Saharan Africa's most underserved societies to global standards.
- Increasing Access to Educational Resources. Help provide universal computer access and print literature for African students, educators and their communities.
- Global Connections. Foster meaningful interaction between African students/educators and their global counterparts.
Objectives
LAP's main objectives in the Ada program are set forth below:
- To provide universal computer access to all 71 primary and junior high schools in the above-mentioned region through 8 low-cost, but high output Literacy/Technology centers that will include hardware, software and Internet connectivity.
- To facilitate volunteerism, technical support and the implementation of educational programs. These aspects support professional development and the increased opportunity for job creation.
- To develop a sustainable educational support plan that ensures the long-term viability of the Literacy/Technology Centers.
- To distribute Book Box Libraries and reading books, along with implementation guidebooks, to all the district schools and to support programs that ensure their effective use.
Activities
To achieve the goals stated above, LAP will engage in the following key activities:
- Creation of Community Technology/Literacy Centers. Each will include 25 computers, 75 curriculum computer textbooks and educator support materials. At these centers students and educators will convene regularly to enhance literary, technological and scientific skills. In addition to computing classes there will be science clubs, spelling competitions and Math Olympiads. The centers will also be used to educate adults and equip them with knowledge through the materials provided.
- Book Box Mobile Libraries. LAP will manage donation, transportation, storage and distribution of all resources including books and literary support materials from the US to Ghana. Mobile libraries are sturdy metal boxes measuring 3x2x1 feet. Each library will be stocked with a minimum of 400 assorted reading books that will cater to a wide variety of reading levels and interests and will always include books written by Ghanaian/ African authors. The libraries also come with support materials, which ensure students and teachers get the maximum benefit from the donated supplies. The mobile libraries can be housed in even the smallest space and the administrators can designate reading times and locations according at their discretion.
- Literary Exchange Academic Program. In the first stage with the literary blog (youthLEAP.org), LAP will facilitate the interaction of Ghanaian students and educators with their global counterparts through reading and writing. Students will work with educators to post literary works and pictures to the blog where their peers can give comments and feedback. After the first year of operation LAP will create the capacity for students and educators to travel abroad to collaborate and volunteer with their peers.
