Developing world libraries and mobile devices

This weeks reading Turning On Mobile Learning-Global Themes about mobile devices being used around the world to promote equitable education was surprising to me.  To learn that of the "7 billion people on Earth, 5.9 billion of them have a mobile phone subscription" was astounding to me.  This paper was published in 2012 and so I wonder what the correct data for this study would reveal today with a population of 7.5 billion?  I had no idea that this was the case. I found this little video titled "In the Making" an interesting look into how cell phones are produced in India for the masses and then tested. The website goes on to show how the majority of Indian people are still not connected to the internet, but that in the next few years this will happen through the use of mobile devices.  I learned of a study that was done by analysts from Info World to show how developing countries use the internet and mobile devices, and that "poor people use the mobile internet for personal advancement, whereas rich people use it for personal convenience."  It became clear to me that the use of mobile devices create a more equitable situation for people living in these places, and that literacy organizations will focus some of their work in this area.

While doing my research, I came across the name of a man, John Wood whose story struck me.  He was traveling 20 years ago trekking through the Annapurna mountain range in Nepal.  When visiting a nepalese schoolroom Wood was appalled at it's sight and being completely devoid of books.  The schoolmaster he was speaking with had some powerful words that ended up guiding Wood's future.  “Perhaps sir, one day you will return with some books”.  Wood eventually left his high paying job with Microsoft after discovering the new direction he wanted his life to take, and created Room to Read, the organization that would go on to create libraries for those children and many others all over the world.

At the same time John Wood was trekking through the Himalayas in 1998, I was too!  I went to Nepal with a friend as part of our Southeast Asia trip.  We followed the Annapurna Circuit higher than I've ever been on land before reaching almost 18000 feet.  It was the hardest thing I had ever done and the most amazing learning how people lived in these kinds of conditions.  Like Wood, we also visited children in schools and orphanages and gave them money for school supplies and Canadian pencils that we had brought with us from home which they appreciated so much.  

Since then I have been inspired by stories about people reaching out to those in need of opportunity.  People like Greg Mortenson in Three Cups of Tea an expeditioner whose journey led him to starting the Central Asia Institute, another organization that enables students to receive an education.  Or on a more personal level was the true story, I Will Always Write Back about the friendship developed between an American girl who used her babysitting money to help make life a lot better for a boy from Zimbabwe.  

(top right): reading by candlelight because there is no electricity (left): hand embroidered bags for tourists to buy made by the locals (middle): the orphanage we visited (bottom left): reaching our summit of almost 18,000 feet after two weeks climb (right): making moms with a lady in her kitchen, no language understood but we had fun.

  

Sources cited

Gruman, Galen. “Mobile's Gift to the World.” InfoWorld, InfoWorld, 26 Dec. 2014, www.infoworld.com/article/2855602/mobile-technology/mobiles-gift-to-the-world-in-poor-countries-its-life-changing.html.

Iyengar, Richi. “India Poised for Smartphone Revolution.” CNNMoney, Cable News Network, 28 Sept. 2017, money.cnn.com/2017/09/26/technology/india-mobile-congress-market-numbers/index.html.

Harlow, Poppy, and John Wood. “Building Literacy around the World.” YouTube, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI69KL33YKI.

Mathur, Bhakti. “How These Girls, and Millions like Them, Defied Odds to Stay in School.” South China Morning Post, South China Morning Post, 23 May 2018, www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2147276/room-read-co-founder-trip-sowed-seeds-charity-20-years-ago-and.

“Greg Mortenson to Retire 20 Years After Founding CAI.” Central Asia Institute, Central Asia Institute, 29 Dec. 2015, centralasiainstitute.org/greg-mortenson-to-retire-20-years-after-founding-central-asia-institute/.