jibla

What we can say from our experience of working with poor students, is that they are no different from those kids around us. Contrary to popular belief, the underprivileged accept advanced technology as readily as we do.

Young people adopt technology easily and use it the same way their peers in wealthy countries and sometimes even more consciously because their problems are much different from the first world ones. They use it to serve their basic needs, but also it becomes a window to the world and opportunities for them - a chance. Internet helps them discover their interests and passions, trying things out and learn about new professions they've never heard about.

Anyway, it is better to be connected in today's world, than not. Why? because of the same reasons why none of us here on HN would give up their connection.

Hey, thanks for your insight. The challenge we have at the moment is that we are not as technical as needed for this. And this might be a totally different direction for us, which is out of our expertise field. But I've heard you and will keep that in mind. Here is my Linkedin account (https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-jibladze-23923b17/)

I would be glad connecting with you and if you allow applying with some questions if we have any.

Sure there are more important things to solve for so many families, but In the modern world, we can skip on gradually solving basic needs. We can and should leapfrog. Furthermore, we believe that internet access and access to information can play a catalyst role in solving those problems. Today we take the internet for granted, but it's luxury for so many people. It is a commodity like water and electricity.

One thing is, what we think people need and another is what they really need. It will be more relevant to use so-called LSM's - Lifestyle measures while evaluating the importance of the internet. That said how do we explain the resident of the village with no clean drinking water, buying a cell phone or kitchen appliance? or a mother paying for her son's education tutoring, even when she goes hungry? A farmer investing in cattle before improving his house? These are all facts and I am sure many of us have heard these stories. One thing is what we perceive and another is what people really need.

Btw by working with the local communities, providing resources, training and constant assistance, we also seem to encourage them to see the relevance of an Internet connection. We hope to prove that most of our beneficiaries will be willing to continue paying for their Internet fees long after we have stopped paying for them. According to preliminary studies most of the families are ready to reprioritize their costs and maintain an internet connection. Because of the high price barrier, they couldn't afford the internet and now since they understand its role in their lives and its relevance, their priorities have changed.

We never target children at an early age. We focus only on High school-school age students, who need it most. As soon as we connect a student the whole family gets access to the internet. It becomes a family thing. You should see high-school students (age 16-18) living in refugee settlements and rural areas. They almost don't have access to any kind of education and information. No link to the worlds. Because of that, they have such a limited worldview. Internet helps them discover their interests and passions, trying things out and learn about new professions they've never heard about. Also, we run online mentorship programs to teach them how to use the internet in a proper way. (Here is the copy of my recent reply to another comment: Besides connecting students, we run an online mentorship program via Chat, online groups, sometimes phone/ video calls. First Students receive a link with a "welcome package"-list of most popular and relevant educational platforms which are available in the local language. We also partner with the local EdTech partners who provide their services for free for our students, so if anyone is interested in any platform we teach them how to use it and provide free access. We are also long term partners with Khan Academy and Code.org and actively promote these platforms to the students.

On a weekly basis, we post in an online group different educational content, free offers from our partners and education organizations who provide their courses for free (both online and offline), we post different scholarship opportunities, fellowships, programs, etc.

We plan to provide tailor-made educational content separately to each student according to their interests and challenges. Also thinking to test different models.)

Oops, thanks. Will fix it.

Hey, thanks for the great feedback. - We've tried used laptops. In the short run, they might work, but the maintenance of the used ones is very hard & expensive in the long run. The initial cost might be around 42 USD, but overall we might end up with a much higher cost. But still, we're always looking for more effective ways. - The problem is so big, there are many untapped geographies. We might even consider working with Computer Aid on this. They might become our partners in some regions. - Since every donor is choosing how much to give for the operations & innovation we don't see any problem. It's almost the same as tips, which are widely practiced by many charities. Though you're right we have to be conscious about it. The average at the moment is 17% - Independent audit is a good idea. We are talking to EY and BDO about it. So that they could run/approve our transparency. - The blog to reveal hard choices is a wonderful idea. Thanks a lot!

No, haven't heard about them until now. Will get in touch. Thanks

Although the studies show that people are more willing to give to a certain person (the story behind her/him) rather than a group. But yes, might be still worth testing. Thanks

Thanks for the link. I don't remember we've tried this

Will reach them out. Thanks

Good talking point! Will keep in mind, thanks

Do you think we, those who are connected, should give up our internet connections? If not should we leave the rest of the world's population without it?

Maybe I am optimistic about the infrastructure, but my point is that according to our research hundreds of millions of families live under the coverage areas and cannot afford an internet connection. Internet affordability is still one of the toughest problems the world is facing.

Sure will check right away. Thanks!

The prices for internet connection are much cheaper in developing countries 10-15 USD and we work with local ISP's and small Wifi operators where they provide free installations and some operators provide discounts on monthly fees.

Regarding your second question I am copying my answer from a post below:

Besides connecting students, we run an online mentorship program via Chat, online groups, sometimes phone/ video calls. First Students receive a link with a "welcome package"-list of most popular and relevant educational platforms which are available in the local language. We also partner with the local EdTech partners who provide their services for free for our students, so if anyone is interested in any platform we teach them how to use it and provide free access. We are also long term partners with Khan Academy and Code.org and actively promote these platforms to the students.

On a weekly basis, we post in an online group different educational content, free offers from our partners and education organizations who provide their courses for free (both online and offline), we post different scholarship opportunities, fellowships, programs, etc.

We plan to provide tailor-made educational content separately to each student according to their interests and challenges. Also thinking to test different models.

At some point, I am not sure yet how can we maintain this educational part on a bigger scale. Hopefully through partners on the ground. But still, we believe that since we all take internet connection for granted and at the same time utilize it for the good of ourselves (not always of course), others have the same right to do it.

According to educators and researchers, there is a huge difference whether a student has access to the internet at home or in a public place where access is limited. In terms of creativity having internet access whenever you need it and how long you need it makes a meaningful difference. But this doesn't mean we only provide students with access. Sometimes we have projects where we connect educational community centers.

Sure, that's why one of the options we consider might be Ubuntu. Chromebooks were fast and cheap solutions to start with.

Yes, I also stumble upon many different numbers from time to time, but more or less they are in millions (only US). The mobile internet infrastructure in the US is still one of the most developed. Sprint and Comcast claim that infrastructure is not a barrier but of course I agree there will be some areas with lack of coverage, but definitely not areas where 20% of US population live.

Btw thanks for this conversation, everything that brings our brain cells into movement is definitely helpful;)

Regarding why should one choose us. One thing we have discovered is that our cause resonates very much with Millenials and the younger generation of professionals. Mostly those engaged in so-called Gig economy (internet economy) Developers, designer, copywriters, etc. 65% Women btw. Second transparency and sense of community we are trying to build (Monthly transparency reports with all the cost breakdowns, student success stories, new geographies, bank account transactions, etc.) We are building a nonprofit for the next generation of donors and are thinking a lot about the ways to achieve really radical transparency that technology can provide.

At the moment we work with local ISP's and Wifi operators who offer free installations and in some areas discounts on a monthly fee.

Btw on Wifi operators is willing to deploy infrastructure in areas where they considered not profitable before. As part of our partnership in September, they launch a new base station in a rural area of Georgia.

Agree. Good point! We had the same issue in Georgia in a village with a Muslim minority population. We try to be very careful when it comes to the privacy issue. We have signed documents of the family members giving us the rights to use photos on the website. Not everybody agrees. And we never use family names.

I understand and maybe 2.5 Bn might be under question.

But lets just to narrow it down to one country - US. One of the worlds strongest economy. Only in the US more than 3 million families with school-aged children can't afford internet connection (Sprint claims it's 5 Mio families) That's why these programs exist: http://1millionproject.org/, https://www.internetessentials.com/, https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-cons...

Now imagine other countries and cities even developed ones. Not talking about developing countries. Btw 160 million secoindary students which I mentioned exclude rural areas, only those who live in urban areas.

Regarding the devices, I agree that might be challenging but the prices for devices are decreasing dramatically. Plus some models of monthly installments can make it plus 5-10 USD to monthly internet fees, which is pretty acceptable. So we believe in the long run the device problem is also solvable.

Got it! Will definitely consider Ubuntu and approach Canonical. Thanks a lot!

I also think we should be conscious in giving. but as Chinese proverb says: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

So we think that by giving internet connection we don't just give certain things. We try to bring an environment where people can find their passions and interests, discover professions, try out things, leave and try another, acquire relevant information, etc. Internet might be a huge step towards equality of opportunity.

Gamarjoba:) We've researched this issue thoroughly and the infrastructure is not an issue. While 50% of the world's population lacks internet access only 15% live out of the coverage area of 3/4 G networks. This is actually where the number 2.5 Bn comes from. The main challenge is the affordability of monthly internet fees and of course devices. We actually solve both problems by providing devices and an internet connection.

Electricity might be an issue in some areas but according to our assumptions, more than 160 million secondary students in low and low-middle income countries live in cities and areas where electricity is not an issue.

Btw by working with the local communities, providing resources, training and constant assistance, we also seem to encourage them to see the relevance of an Internet connection. We hope to prove that most of our beneficiaries will be willing to continue paying for their Internet fees long after we have stopped paying for them. According to preliminary studies most of the families are ready to reprioritize their costs and maintain an internet connection.

The "Fun" times you mentioned is one of the reasons why we've started GiveInternet.org since we have experienced first-hand the transformational power of connectivity in improving people's lives.

Btw it turned out that the Millenials and younger are very much willing to donate to this cause and they do it on a monthly basis since they understand that internet is monthly cost. The cause somehow resonates with them. We are trying to build a community of our donors by building the long term experience (Monthly transparency reports with all the cost breakdowns, student success stories, new geographies, bank account transactions, etc.) But the challenge you've mentioned is something we are still thinking about and are ready to experiment to find the right model.

Right. We have tested Ubuntu as well. Still figuring out what the right solutions are. Do you think Ubuntu might be a better option? Or are there any other solutions that might be relevant for us?

We work with the local ISP's and small Wifi operators. After installation families provide their subscriber codes and we set automatic transactions to those codes.

Yes we also provide devices which are funded either by individuals (via online donations) or corporate sponsors

First, we wanted donors to choose a student (according to their profiles) but this led to many challenges including the one you mentioned. So now donors can see profiles of every student waiting but they usually donate to the platform. We don't have one time donations. only monthly donations.

But still, we are at the MVP stage and figuring out what the right models could be.

You are right Youtube is a real gem, but only if used in a proper way. One of the challenges we have, that right after internet installation students check youtube and for the first-time users, it shows only the most popular content which unfortunately is far from the educational one. That's why we try to navigate students via our online mentorship program (described above) and guide them on how to use the internet (and btw youtube)for education

Besides connecting students, we run an online mentorship program via Chat, online groups, sometimes phone/ video calls.

First Students receive a link with a "welcome package"-list of most popular and relevant educational platforms which are available in the local language. We also partner with the local EdTech partners who provide their services for free for our students, so if anyone is interested in any platform we teach them how to use it and provide free access. We are also long term partners with Khan Academy and Code.org and actively promote these platforms to the students.

On a weekly basis, we post in an online group different educational content, free offers from our partners and education organizations who provide their courses for free (both online and offline), we post different scholarship opportunities, fellowships, programs, etc.

We plan to provide tailor-made educational content separately to each student according to their interests and challenges. Also thinking to test different models.

Agree. This is exactly the main argument of educators in favor of bigger screens and keyboard. Although Chromebooks still lack features for creation (not possible to install some software), students can still create everything that can be done on cloud-based platforms.

Good point. Btw regarding the theft issue, the laptops stay on a nonprofit balance (or a local partner balance). Which means that families are not the owners. They sign a document of so-called "temporary usage agreement". In reality, we leave those devices to the families forever but they don't know about it. Since the document is legally binding they still avoid selling them.