Intel VP John Davies visits Bortos School in Oseem as part of Intel World Ahead Program

Intel’s Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group, General Manager, World Ahead Program, John Davies, toured the school’s facilities today, six months following the inauguration by Intel Chairman Dr. Craig Barrett.

During Dr. Barrett’s visit in December, the school received a shipment of computers spread out over two labs and a WIMAX connection, providing students and teachers with access to a wealth of information on the world wide web, as well as access to computer programs.

“Providing educational and technological tools to developing communities is only the beginning,” said Davies. “Ensuring that the local community is benefiting from the technology, and that future generations within the community are being prepared to enter an always developing technological world is a must. The opportunities are there and we are working with local communities and education institutes through our Intel World Ahead Program to ensure that these opportunities are realized.”

Through the Intel World Ahead Program – which has just celebrated its one year anniversary – Intel works with technology industry partners, education leaders and government figures to provide opportunities to those in developing communities that would otherwise not be available. Intel has committed US$1 billion over a period of five years to support the program, whose objectives include training an additional 10 million teachers in the use of technology in education, with a potential to reach another one billion students.

Oseem Village is a prime example of a developing community lacking the necessary infrastructure to provide its residents with educational opportunities. Lacking adequate education methods, communication systems and healthcare, the village has long been stagnant. The opportunities provided by the Intel World Ahead Program, while also beneficial in the short-term, are especially relevant in the long-run.

“Think of the students in Bortos School 10 or 15 years from now. Having had access to technology and having benefited from unique educational methods, they can in turn benefit the people of Oseem by using their education and experience to find ways to better the area. The process is a cycle – by investing in the students at this age, they can then invest in their own community as they develop,” added Davies.

To achieve such results Intel is making use of advanced technologies especially adapted for rural deployment, such as WiMAX for fixed broadband access, low cost and low power PC technology and single button recovery. Intel is using technologies that are simple to setup and maintain in harsh environments with no access to technical expertise, and technologies that are extremely cost effective to deploy that are based on standards ensuring competitive supply with minimal investments.