Community Stewardship
Thanks to my kayak and ski instructing work in Flekke, Fjaler, Norway and Fernie, BC, Canada respectively, and to my Middlebury educational studies minor with math instructing postings, I have always looked for ways to share my knowledge.
Inspired by my computer education work as a student employee in Middlebury, VT, USA at Wilson Media Lab, I found interest in the topic of digital divide (#1–#6). With a few other UWC (United World College) Middlebury students, we founded a non-profit organization C4L (Computers 4 Literacy) and partnered with local institutions in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Zambia for pilot projects. I implemented the pilot in Ethiopia in 2012 and provided basic computer literacy training. The projects included 65 laptops I sourced, refurbished, and equipped with a custom educational Linux-based operating system (OS) I designed during several months from open-source collaborative resources.
Reaching 400+ children within 2 months, and thousands since then, their newly learned skills encouraged comparing and sharing of ideas that facilitate social and economic change. By setting up C4L media labs and providing free computer lessons, we contributed to building a generation of technologically savvy and employable individuals who will contribute positively to the economies of their respective countries.
Although I work with both Mac and PC (Windows), I am grateful for Ubuntu OS. It is free, fast, secure, stylish, and intuitive, making it appropriate for non-commercial deployment. Additionally, the operating system can be customized to one's specific needs. I identify with Ubuntu ideals of shared knowledge and accessible education for all. Therefore, I customized Ubuntu 12.04 OS and created C4L'12 Ubuntu OS. I made it publicly available with its documentation. Please note that my C4L email is no longer active and in case you would like to get in touch with me, please use the CONTACT instructions.
I learned a lot in this process of going through refurbishing computers from 2006 and 2007. To my pleasant surprise, all of the open-source customized systems that I prepared ended up as swift as any new computer from 2012, the year of the pilot projects. In addition to all great software and sleek interface, I was able to play high-definition TV (HDTV) videos perfectly fine, just as your new and expensive TV would at the time. I was pleasantly amazed by considerably lower hardware requirements that Ubuntu operating systems use.
Before C4L, in addition to volunteering as a Red Cross assistant during Ridderrennet 2008 international winter games for disabled athletes in Norway as a personal assistant and waiter in a hotel, and a sports photographer (#7–#8), I took the initiative to photo document MCRC (Middlebury College Rugby Club, 2009 DII USA National winners) games between 2009 and 2011, any time I was injured and recovering, thus unable to contribute to my team athletically (#9–#10).
Inspired by my computer education work as a student employee in Middlebury, VT, USA at Wilson Media Lab, I found interest in the topic of digital divide (#1–#6). With a few other UWC (United World College) Middlebury students, we founded a non-profit organization C4L (Computers 4 Literacy) and partnered with local institutions in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Zambia for pilot projects. I implemented the pilot in Ethiopia in 2012 and provided basic computer literacy training. The projects included 65 laptops I sourced, refurbished, and equipped with a custom educational Linux-based operating system (OS) I designed during several months from open-source collaborative resources.
Reaching 400+ children within 2 months, and thousands since then, their newly learned skills encouraged comparing and sharing of ideas that facilitate social and economic change. By setting up C4L media labs and providing free computer lessons, we contributed to building a generation of technologically savvy and employable individuals who will contribute positively to the economies of their respective countries.
Although I work with both Mac and PC (Windows), I am grateful for Ubuntu OS. It is free, fast, secure, stylish, and intuitive, making it appropriate for non-commercial deployment. Additionally, the operating system can be customized to one's specific needs. I identify with Ubuntu ideals of shared knowledge and accessible education for all. Therefore, I customized Ubuntu 12.04 OS and created C4L'12 Ubuntu OS. I made it publicly available with its documentation. Please note that my C4L email is no longer active and in case you would like to get in touch with me, please use the CONTACT instructions.
I learned a lot in this process of going through refurbishing computers from 2006 and 2007. To my pleasant surprise, all of the open-source customized systems that I prepared ended up as swift as any new computer from 2012, the year of the pilot projects. In addition to all great software and sleek interface, I was able to play high-definition TV (HDTV) videos perfectly fine, just as your new and expensive TV would at the time. I was pleasantly amazed by considerably lower hardware requirements that Ubuntu operating systems use.
Before C4L, in addition to volunteering as a Red Cross assistant during Ridderrennet 2008 international winter games for disabled athletes in Norway as a personal assistant and waiter in a hotel, and a sports photographer (#7–#8), I took the initiative to photo document MCRC (Middlebury College Rugby Club, 2009 DII USA National winners) games between 2009 and 2011, any time I was injured and recovering, thus unable to contribute to my team athletically (#9–#10).
