Our fundraising efforts: Escola Gustavo Barroso

We have finished our first phase of fund raising! Thanks a dedicated group of doctoral students enrolled in EDIT 9990 at UGA and the many supportive folks who came and went through Aderhold Hall, we managed to raise approximately US$1000 dollars for this school! Below, a picture taken at Gustavo Barroso in Fortaleza, when the funds were accepted, you can also watch a movie. Pictured from left to right: Paulo Vieira Sampaio (technology coordinator for the school), Virna Macedo (exchange student from UFC who came to UGA, Fall 2004), José Aires (professor at the College of Education at UFC), and Josefa da Silva (school director), and Jay Harriman (adjunct professor of IT at UGA). You can also see a short video taken at the time of the acceptance. We have begun developing educational projects with this school. During the Fall of 2004, we developed an exchange using audio/video among 7th grade students from Clark Middle School (Athens, GA) and Gustavo Barroso to discuss the political process in the two countries. We will continue our relationship with Gustavo Barroso with service and teaching/learning activities.

This public school, located in Fortaleza has been the focus of our current fund raising efforts. It is located in a central, but poor region of the city, and serves 1051 children of which 140 are in special education, and 121 are young adults and adults. Since our first visit, we were excited to see their ability to use their very limited resources in order to provide quality education for its students. The school currently has a computer laboratory, furnished by the government over five years ago. The machines are old, but in conjunction with television, video, and other resources, they are used to support many of the subjects taught in school.

There are two projects we are supporting. The first will build an extension to the school building, which will add 70% more space to the current (crowded) computer laboratory. The school is trying to add 5 computers to its laboratory funded by the municipal government and needs the extra space to house them. A second project is helping build a playground to be used for physical education and weekend/after-hours recreational activities. The US$1000 dollars will be used to begin the construction of the computer room extension.

Pictures of Gustavo Barroso

Children coming out of class Computer lab, student lab monitor Classroom Empty space we will help fill! Newly built roof for physical education area Current computer lab during a class