Photo by Elmira Bayrasli
These are kids I met in Cambodia. But I shouldn’t have. The older ones should be at school. Instead they were with their parents, who are rice farmers selling rice to the mill. Their farm is three to five miles away from the nearest school. So they only go when they can.
There are a lot of kids not only in Cambodia, but in many developing countries that don’t go to school because the distance is too far. That is just one of many reasons children in the developing world don’t attend class.
And it reminded me why I’m bothered by the One Laptop Per Child program, which has just announced that its partnering with Marvel to become the one tablet per child program.
One Laptop is a program that provides inexpensive (read cheap), computers to children in the developing world. These computers are battery operated and come with the most basic operating features. Their purpose to provide kids in the developing world with the same technological training as children in the West – so that they’re not left behind in this rapidly globalized high tech world.
This program has had mixed success in Uruguay and Rwanda, where both country’s governments have poured an enormous amount of resources into improving education standards, which includes providing public transportation to and from schools.
One Laptop Per Child does not operate in Cambodia. And it shouldn’t. Not yet at least. Not until Cambodians can get all school age children to school. Most kids here get to school on bicycles. That would be an excellent place to start. Lucky there is an organization way ahead of me. Bikes for the World is a non-profit that provides affordable bicycles to people all over the world. They work in places like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, countries that are no strangers to violence and war. Cambodia, aka The Killing Fields, would be right up their alley.
Affordable bikes, however, is only one solution. Cambodia’s roads – well, they suck. Most are unpaved dirt paths. Where there are paved roads, they’re single lane – shared by cars and cows alike. This makes them more like Grand Prix obstacle courses with faster cars trying to pass slow moving wagons, tractors and bicycles – all while avoiding on coming traffic. Bicycles where no riders are wearing helmets.
I’ve searched around for an organization that provides One Helmet Per Child but haven’t come up with anything. A helmet is sure cheaper than a laptop and a tablet. And, yet, far more valuable than either. Start up anyone?
One Comment
How often do bicycle accidents actually happen in Cambodia? I feel like helmet distribution should be part of the work of someone already there distributing bicycles if they are needed.
So what do you think is the primary reason for these kids not going to school?