Ochapowace Students To Get Customized Laptops

Ochapowace Students To Get Customized Laptops

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 13:28

 

 

Up to 5,000 schoolchildren in Aboriginal communities across Canada will be receiving special laptop computers — including youngsters at a school on the Ochapowace First Nation.

 

The Belinda Stronach Foundation, BMO Financial Group and other partners are giving the customized laptops to children aged six to 12 years.

 

The initiative, which is the first of its kind in Canada, aims to combine leading-edge technology with culturally-relevant programming.

 

Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie helped design the program.

 

The laptops come equipped with eight customized programs designed to encourage youth to explore new and existing subjects in a creative way that is tailored to their unique history and cultural perspective.

 

The subjects included literacy, mental health, substance use, well-being, physical fitness, financial literacy and water safety.

 

The low-cost, low-power laptops also have wireless capability and are designed to endure rugged conditions.

 

Ochapowace’s Kakisiwew School was the only Saskatchewan school selected for phase one of the pilot project.