Summary of project status and achievements:
During October, another month-long intake of the LISa basic computer skills class began and concluded. The intake followed the established curriculum, but deviated from the usual schedule due to low enrollment and attendance. LISa typically offers three sessions of computer classes per intake; two in the morning and one in the afternoon. During this intake, two sessions were offered instead, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, because a lack of students. This schedule change proved to be helpful in dealing with power shortages at the computer lab caused by the onset of rainy season as well as the removal of one of the solar panels earlier this year.
Partway through the intake, the LISa coordinator and the computer class instructor, Francis, went to Lubumbashi for a family medical emergency. His assistant, Toy, assumed responsibility for teaching the current computer class intake as well as for managing operations in the computer lab, including practice hours and recruitment. The PM and the assistant met together to discuss recruitment, and over 200 applications were received for the final intake of computer classes, over a 400% increase over the number of applications received the previous month. Toy received an increase in his October salary for the increased workload that he assumed during this month.
The computer class, under Toy’s instruction, concluded on 23 October. On October 24th, the PM and the COC met with all FORGE staff and announced that the computer lab would close early, and that the final intake of classes would not be held. Computer lab staff members worked to finish all of their reports and projects and to gather data that they wished to preserve from the computers on 24th and 25th October. By the end of the day on 25th October, the computer staff members, carpenter Eryx and additional skilled workers had dismantled the solar systems and computer lab equipment for transport to Kala Camp on 26th October. All computer staff members who qualified received severance pay as compensation for the early termination of their contracts. Francis, the coordinator, will receive his severance pay when he returns to Mwange from Lubumbashi.
Community members were surprised by the early closure of the computer lab, and expressed their unhappiness that this camp institution had to leave. However, they also expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the positive contributions that the computer lab had made to the Mwange community and for the many students that were educated through its 14 intakes of computer classes.
Indicators and Statistics:
Unfortunately, due to the short turnaround time between the end of the intake and the closure of the computer lab, the information that was gathered is incomplete and incorrect. This issue was complicated by the absence of the LISa coordinator at the time that all available data needed to be collected; the data submitted by the replacement is confusing and inaccurate, and numbers are reported differently in different places. For this reason, no information is currently available for the final intake.
Future goals:
None.
Substantial problems or issues:
None.
Wishes or request:
None.
Budget status:
Included in the expense monitor.
