Get computers for the girls of KMSC
Donation protected
Hi!
My name is Leela Subramaniam, and I am raising money to create a computer lab for the KMSC Girls’ School in southern India. My great-grandfather founded the school in 1972, in our ancestral village of Natarasankottai. At the time of its founding, the school had nearly 100 female students who had grown up in the nearby villages with little previous exposure to education due to their gender and economic background. Over the years, the school has expanded and includes 400 attendees ranging from 6th to 12th grade. My family and other families in the village are working to bring new, innovative educational programs to the school, in order to broaden the horizons of the students. Many of the girls that attend the school would not have access to a real education if it were not for KMSC, because they are growing up in such a rural area of India.
Why do the girls need a computer lab?
I am a hardware design engineer, and throughout my schooling, I had the opportunity to realize my passions because I had the privilege of being exposed to different technologies starting at a young age. In middle school, I was in clubs like Science Olympiad and Robotics, which encouraged us to use computers not only in class, but also in more creative ways. We prepared for competitions and wrote programs to control our robots on the school computers. I want to bring computers to the girls of KMSC because I want them to have some of the same opportunities I had. Engineering tends to be a more male-dominated field and it is only with encouragement and exposure that we can encourage girls to start exploring these fields. Technology, and specifically access to computers, will allow the girls to explore more subjects, and help them gain additional access and information about the world outside of their village. Computer Science has become as important as Math or English in terms of job preparation and we want to encourage the girls to follow their ambitions.
What is the money for?
1. Approximately 30 computers. (Approximately $9000 with $300 per computer)
2. The network: a server, a networking switch, monitors (if we get laptops), and power extension chords. (Approximately $2500-$4000)
3. The software: Microsoft Office Suite for each computer, and other software targeted for learning for ages 12-18. These include CodeAvengers, CoSpaces Edu, and more. We are also looking into the possibility of getting computers which come with educational software like Chromebooks. (Approximately $2000-$4000)
These materials would allow classes to be conducted with 2-3 girls per computer. We want to teach the girls elementary computer skills such as typing, working in Microsoft Office Suite, basic HTML, and C/C++. Children pick up things at a much higher rate than adults, so if we expose the girls to these basic skills at this age, it will prepare them for any type of career.
How will your help change the lives of these girls?
In today’s world, technology is being used in every industry, and lack of exposure to computers currently puts these girls at a disadvantage for careers outside of their villages. If we bring this computer lab to the school, the girls will have increased exposure to the outside world and the skill sets to start their own independent careers. I want to empower them to see the wonders of technology and to enable them to pursue their ambitions
What is the plan?
We will use the money we raise to buy the hardware and software for the lab. I will be going to India this December to help set up the lab with the equipment and the network. Each girl will have their own username and password to store their work on. I will also be working with the teachers to build a good, long-term curriculum plan.
Please check out our new website!
www.kmscschoolforgirls.com
Please check out the School's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KMSCGirls-Higher-Secondary-School-Nattarasankottai-1202857653143323/?ref=br_rs
Let's share technology :)
Thanks to Google Maps:
My name is Leela Subramaniam, and I am raising money to create a computer lab for the KMSC Girls’ School in southern India. My great-grandfather founded the school in 1972, in our ancestral village of Natarasankottai. At the time of its founding, the school had nearly 100 female students who had grown up in the nearby villages with little previous exposure to education due to their gender and economic background. Over the years, the school has expanded and includes 400 attendees ranging from 6th to 12th grade. My family and other families in the village are working to bring new, innovative educational programs to the school, in order to broaden the horizons of the students. Many of the girls that attend the school would not have access to a real education if it were not for KMSC, because they are growing up in such a rural area of India.
Why do the girls need a computer lab?
I am a hardware design engineer, and throughout my schooling, I had the opportunity to realize my passions because I had the privilege of being exposed to different technologies starting at a young age. In middle school, I was in clubs like Science Olympiad and Robotics, which encouraged us to use computers not only in class, but also in more creative ways. We prepared for competitions and wrote programs to control our robots on the school computers. I want to bring computers to the girls of KMSC because I want them to have some of the same opportunities I had. Engineering tends to be a more male-dominated field and it is only with encouragement and exposure that we can encourage girls to start exploring these fields. Technology, and specifically access to computers, will allow the girls to explore more subjects, and help them gain additional access and information about the world outside of their village. Computer Science has become as important as Math or English in terms of job preparation and we want to encourage the girls to follow their ambitions.
What is the money for?
1. Approximately 30 computers. (Approximately $9000 with $300 per computer)
2. The network: a server, a networking switch, monitors (if we get laptops), and power extension chords. (Approximately $2500-$4000)
3. The software: Microsoft Office Suite for each computer, and other software targeted for learning for ages 12-18. These include CodeAvengers, CoSpaces Edu, and more. We are also looking into the possibility of getting computers which come with educational software like Chromebooks. (Approximately $2000-$4000)
These materials would allow classes to be conducted with 2-3 girls per computer. We want to teach the girls elementary computer skills such as typing, working in Microsoft Office Suite, basic HTML, and C/C++. Children pick up things at a much higher rate than adults, so if we expose the girls to these basic skills at this age, it will prepare them for any type of career.
How will your help change the lives of these girls?
In today’s world, technology is being used in every industry, and lack of exposure to computers currently puts these girls at a disadvantage for careers outside of their villages. If we bring this computer lab to the school, the girls will have increased exposure to the outside world and the skill sets to start their own independent careers. I want to empower them to see the wonders of technology and to enable them to pursue their ambitions
What is the plan?
We will use the money we raise to buy the hardware and software for the lab. I will be going to India this December to help set up the lab with the equipment and the network. Each girl will have their own username and password to store their work on. I will also be working with the teachers to build a good, long-term curriculum plan.
Please check out our new website!
www.kmscschoolforgirls.com
Please check out the School's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KMSCGirls-Higher-Secondary-School-Nattarasankottai-1202857653143323/?ref=br_rs
Let's share technology :)
Thanks to Google Maps:
Organizer
Leela Subramaniam
Organizer
Mountain View, CA
