WSU, ESD Provide Technology Training to Rwandan Teens

Rwanda looks to WSU center for help in integrating technology into its secondary schools. Four Rwandan teens will visit Spokane Aug. 13-20 to receive technology training that they can take back to their homeland and classmates. Their two-week visit to the Pacific Northwest, which includes stints in Pullman and the Puget Sound region, is part of an on-going initiative to help shift Rwanda’s economy toward a foundation of information-based jobs and away from subsistence agriculture. The students, accompanied by a chaperone from the Rwanda Ministry of Education, will receive training that focuses on entrepreneurism and business practices. The areas of learning include digital photography, networking, trouble shooting, digital embroidery, video conferencing and blogging. The Digital Learning Commons will also provide a subset of tools for the students to use. While many initiatives in Africa provide hardware and computers, the machines are useless in the long run without the human capacity to repair and maintain them. The training will take place at Spokane’s Educational Service District 101, 4202 S. Regal St, Spokane. Lisa Holmes, WSU Center to Bridge the Digital Divide, will host the students. Fun activities for the visiting teens are also planned. To schedule an interview or photo opportunity, contact Holmes at 509.879.3407.