Main fundraiser photo

Learning GIS by Students in Vietnam

This recent photo is from a university classroom in Hue, Vietnam. The students are learning to use state-of-the-art Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software.

Count the number of students in the class.  Did you count about  23? Then count the number of computers. Did you count 7? That computes to an average of 3+ students per computer.

The class instructor told me that many of the students are from the Vietnamese countryside and their families are poor - just able to afford university tuition but not able to provide a computer for their daughter or son.

Approval has been granted by the university administration to award two laptops - one to a  female and one to a male student studying GIS - provided we are able to raise enough money to purchase two laptops in Hue City.

The broad goal of this project is to inspire and equip two students for future accomplishments by overcoming obstacles that currently limit their potential.

Candidates who are eligible to apply for the awards must be from poor families, 3rd or 4th year students and planning to pursue a career that will use their GIS knowledge. 

You can help with a donation to fund the purchase of two laptops. The cost is 600 USD per laptop which includes licensing Microsoft Office software.

The total amount needed to complete this project is $1,200. If we raise more money, we will expand the project to include more students.

I will be in Vietnam in late October.  At that time we will select the award recipients, purchase the computers and make the presentation to the two students.  Please lend your support to improving the lives of two capable but under-resourced Vietnamese students.

PS - for those interested in the technicalities - the QGIS software used in the class is open source (zero cost). The  open source curriculum is Vol 1 - Intro to GIS, Vol 2 - Using GIS to Assess Forest Coverage and Vol 3 - Using GIS for Crop Monitoring. The curriculum is in English with a parallel Vietnamese translation.

Organizer

Bob Catherman
Organizer
Woodinville, WA

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