One of the school’s top priorities is to enable children to become proficient in computer use and to be able to access the internet for use in their studies. Apart from broadening their access to knowledge, this should greatly improve their employment prospects and further education qualifications at a time when Kenya is rapidly expanding computer access through installing fibre-optic cables across the country. The Community is also keen to begin to link its members to the outside world. The nearest access to computers at the moment is an internet point almost 20 km away in the district town of Bondo.

As part of the 2009 building programme, a computer training room was constructed. The goal this year is to equip it with an initial stock of 20 computers with internet access. A further 5 computers will be placed in a building to be constructed outside the school compound, for use by members of the community. It will be run as part of  the nascent “Institute of Technology” that will provide practical skills straining in a variety of fields for school leavers and other interested adults.

In both cases, the plan is to use low-voltage computers, designed to stand up to tough conditions, powered by photovoltaic panels. The computers are made by a US non-profit company called Inveneo (www.inveneo.org), which has an agency offering installation, training and technical support in Kenya. The total cost of the planned equipment will be around £27,500, but, of course, the amount is flexible as the number of computers can go up or down depending on the amount of money available.

The Got Matar Community has applied to the Development Innovation Fund, recently set up by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), for a grant towards part of the costs, but it is not certain whether it will be approved. In the meantime, George MacMillan, is promoting fund-raising initiatives to raise resources towards the project. As part of this, Presbyterian Churches in Langbank and Port Glasgow are putting on a series of events this summer to draw attention to Got Matar and to raise funds for computers (http://web.me.com/standrews.pg/Site/Langbank_-_St_Andrews.html). You may send donations directly to George MacMillan at Finlaystone, making cheques payable to: ‘George MacMillan (Got Matar account)‘.

In addition, friends who have been invited by George’s children to a series of parties “to console him on reaching the end of his eightieth year”, have been advised not to give him a present – but that “those desperate to give something to someone may like to consider the Got Matar Secondary School computer fund.”