Our Future
We’ve just gotten started, but we’ve created successful innovations to replicate and refine. We have more fresh ideas to try out when resources become available. We hope to inspire others to pursue creative approaches to make computers more widely available.
Our Rental Program
Although it didn’t take off quickly, our rental program in Tactic is flying high. All available computers — currently 93 — are rented, reflecting the program’s significance to the students of Tactic. Computers and replacement parts will continue to come from the US because they sometimes cost four times as much in Guatemala. But rental revenues now pay all wages, rent, and utilities.
We are confident this success can be replicated in other towns. We are working to extend it to San Cristóbal Verapaz later this year in collaboration with CasaSito. We hope we can organize to serve students in other towns when school starts in January 2025.
Curriculum and Enrollment Growth
We were so pleased to learn that IMaCK’s faculty had solicited and obtained approval for a new computer-based certification based on acquisition of computers from Chaptops. Enrollment grew by one-third for the 2024 school year!
Receiving Ministry approval for the new program was not a trivial task. However, we want to find other schools who will commit themselves to the task and support them with the computers they need.
Granting required certifications
Middle-school students must attend classes at private academies to obtain a computer certificate required for graduation. We will soon have approval to offer the classes and grant the certificates, and we will provide them at a much lower cost than for-profit academies. In addition to the Ministry of Education, other authorities such as the health department must give their approval. Things move slowly, but we’ll get there.
Makerspace
We have planted the seeds of a makerspace in Tactic with a 3D printer. This summer, we will offer basic classes on 3D printing to interested local students. We have also purchased ten Raspberry Pi single-board computers to introduce students to the Internet-of-Things. It’s sure to change some students minds about what they can accomplish.
Computer Camp
Our first computer camp for elementary school students last December was a big success! We’ll build on that during future school vacations. Students who can approach a computer with confidence when they arrive in middle school will be a clear step ahead.
Teacher Training
We already rent computers to local teachers in Tactic. We will offer some interesting classes for teachers in 2024.
Biblioteca Chaptops
We will create many more copies of our large offline reference library on USB drives and distribute them as widely as possible.
Mobile Village Café
New satellite internet service (Starlink) costs only $65 monthly in Guatemala after purchasing easily portable equipment for $450. With an infusion of cash from the US for the equipment and a used van or bus, we think it will be possible to create a self-sustaining computer “bookmobile” that makes a weekly circuit through off-line villages.
Paid Staff
To manage so many projects, we need to hire more local staff. We plan to hire a full-time Guatemala Director and create more part-time jobs by the beginning of 2025.
You are the key!
None of these things will happen for the students of Alta Verapaz without cash and computers.
We are moving the needle! We’re counting on you to keep it moving!