Product category:
Insulation
News Release from: Saint-Gobain Isover UK
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 13 October 2006
Isover helps upgrade IT in Kenya
Leading UK insulation manufacturer Saint-Gobain Isover is helping teachers and students in Kenya to keep up to date with technology.
Leading UK insulation manufacturer Saint-Gobain Isover is helping teachers and students in Kenya to keep up to date with technology Isover business analyst Alastair Heath is taking two weeks out of his annual leave to visit villages in the Bungoma region of the country to install 20 computers and train teachers in their operation and maintenance
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 3 Nov 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Isover has donated £450 towards the transportation costs - the largest expense - and software needed for the computers that have been donated through businesses, schools and individuals in the Diocese of Peterborough where Alastair lives.
Alastair is making the trip with his girlfriend Emma Grannell who is a systems co-ordinator with logistics giant Christian Salvesen.
The Diocese has forged strong links with its counterpart in Bungoma over the past six years through regular ecumenical and educational exchanges and has provided fundraising support for several projects including two nurses for a clinic in Butonge.
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The computer requirement came to light when the head teacher of Butonge High School, Godfrey Emmanuel, on a recent exchange visit to schools in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, expressed his amazement at the level of technology.
He remarked that in his country, most schools do not even have a computer, and if someone needs to send an email, a message has to be physically taken to where there is a computer capable of sending it electronically.
Alastair, who is based at Isover's headquarters near Loughborough, said: "This is the first time either Emma or myself have ever done any voluntary work although it has been something we have both said we would like to do.
So when we heard the diocese was planning to send these computers but they had no one to install them and train the teachers, we decided to volunteer.
" Godfrey Emmanuel said: "Our students are greatly held back from joining the modern world.
Having access to computers will really make a significant difference to them and their communities by opening up far more job opportunities.
"We are really looking forward to seeing Emma and Alastair and have organised accommodation for them in the school.
We would like to sincerely thank everyone who has made this all possible".
David Toywa, head of computer studies at Butonge High School, said in an email to Emma: "You have made our dream come true - a dream, that our school staff and students be IT complaint and computer literate".
Isover marketing manager Gerry Mitchell said: "We are delighted to be associated with this project.
When Alastair mentioned what he and Emma were planning to do we were more than happy to help.".
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