12 May 2008, a date we will never forget.

The mega earthquake that hit hard at the rural areas in Sichuan brought destructions beyond human imagination.

Among the destructions, the schools were hit hard and 3 million students were affected. All school children are now attending classes in temporary campuses made of prefabricated materials, where conditions are harsh and learning is seriously disrupted. Books, which used to be the only valuable teaching resources, were destroyed. Learning was hard before the earthquake. It is even more challenging now. The children are desperate to get back on track with their learning, because they know knowledge is the best way to equip themselves for the challenges ahead.

The time is now.

OLPC, Asia Pacific [OLPC APAC) is ready to deliver the vision of the project to the children in the earthquake-stricken areas.

The success of the project relies heavily on the support and commitment of the Sichuan Provincial Government, local authorities and school administration. Mr Anthony Wong and his team have conducted site visits and briefing sessions with the Sichuan authorities and school personnel in August 2008, during which liaison and groundwork were firmly established. Local government and school authorities there have pledged strong support and commitment. Ten primary schools from the earthquake-stricken areas have been selected; 20,000 XO laptops will be delivered to the children in phases. Training of the teachers will soon follow; volunteers at OLPC APAC will continue to provide technical support for the recipient schools after delivery of the XOs.

Through the XO laptops, OLPC APAC will open a new horizon to the young children in the quake-stricken areas – they could now “learn learning” through inspirational software, gain access to knowledge and withstand the harsh aftermath conditions through XO’s intelligent design.

In the long run, OLPC APAC is committed to -

• promoting the project to cover other poverty-stricken areas in China, bringing more education opportunities to the children there; and
  
• exploring the potentials of the underprivileged children with the help of the XO as an education tool, to bring them a better and brighter future.

The smiles of the underprivileged children are the driving force behind our team. At the OLPC APAC, we are committed to materialize the mission of the project.