OLPC launches OLPCorps to send XOs into schools
updated 04:50 pm EST, Fri February 27, 2009
OLPC internship program
The One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project announced on Friday it is launching an internship program that will involve as many as 100 teams of university students distribute the XO laptops to children in Africa during the summer of 2009. Undergraduate and graduate students from around the world will be eligible to participate, with each student team receiving 100 XO laptops and related accessories as well as $10,000 to cover operating costs.
Student teams will need to attend a training seminar in Kigali, Rwanda, held between June 8th and 17th before spending nine weeks in an African country. During this time, the students will work the local schools and non-governmental organizations to integrate the XO laptop as an educational tool into a school's curriculum.
OLPC has until now limited most of its initial support for countries to talks with the governments themselves; the new program puts representatives and help at the schools themselves, potentially improving the experience and giving the XO a possible edge over rival PCs like Intel's Classmate.
