A laptop for every Palestinian child

US-based pro-Palestinian organization asks for Israel's help in distributing 1,000 laptop computers to Ramallah schools in order to improve Palestinian children's learning techniques
Itamar Eichner

An American organization has requested Israel's assistance in a new initiative similar to the Israeli "computer for every child" project. The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP), an organization committed to the welfare of the Palestinian people, asked that the State help transfer around 1,000 laptop computers to the West Bank city of Ramallah.

 

The project is led by Nick Negroponte, brother of US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, former director of national intelligence. Its goal is to provide Palestinian students with tools that will help improve thought and independent study, in order to better their learning achievements and the status of their teachers.

 

The program also aims to negate the traditional system of study, which requires students merely to memorize the material taught in class.

 

So far, the organization has purchased over 1,000 laptop computers and prepared them for urgent delivery to Ramallah, where they are to be distributed among the different elementary schools. The organization also plans to purchase thousands more and distribute them throughout the Palestinian territories.

 

The project is funded by the US State Department, and headed on the Palestinian side by top aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Sabri Saydem. Saydem has recently informed Israel of the organization's request for assistance in distributing the computers.