Hormiguitas Educativas

Educational Ants

Bringing Computers for Guatemalan Public (and semi-public) Schools

  
 

Haga clik aqui si usted representa a una escuela (Básica o de Español)

Have a used computer?

Donate it.

Looking to study Spanish in Guatemala?

Look at our partner schools.

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Can you carry a computer (or other educational material) to Antigua, Guatemala?

Let us know.

  

Want to know what we do with the computers?

We use them in middle schools.

Other questions:

FAQ

  

 

DonateDonate your Computer

- Desired Specs - How To - Donate $ -

When you buy a new computer in the US, it's hard to find anything to do with the old one. Perhaps even your own local public school doesn't want a random lot of old computers. But in Guatemala, these computers can be useful in public schools. Not only are they good for learning computer and typing skills, or as a reference source using encyclopecia CD's, they can even be a source of revenue for the schools, who can rent them out to edit and print documents.

What do we want:

  • Working PC-style computers with everything but the monitors (keyboard, mouse).
  • 1996 vintage or later (minimum Pentium-class 100MHz, 16 MB ram, 1GB HD, CD drive preferred.)
  • Older laptops are welcome, because we don't have to buy monitors for them.
  • NO MONITORS, the transport is too difficult.
  • We also appreciate any software, esp. educational or reference, CD's that go with it.
  • Good surge protectors! (or power strips, or UPSs)
  • Also more than welcome are laser printers. Inkjet ink is too expensive for regular use here, sorry.
  • Similarly recent peripherals - scanners, webcams, 56K modems, ethernet hubs.
  • Along with a computer that satisfies the above, feel free to send some parts off of older models: IDE hard disks of at least 400MB, and power supplies (If you know what that is. If not, don't worry.)

(Over time, we may raise or lower these criteria, depending on the number of donations we are receiving)

Also, you need to be ready to keep your computer for up to 4 months while we arrange for transportation. Also, we would appreciate it if you are willing to pay to ship your computer within the US to the "ant" who will carry it. Nevertheless, we still thankfully accept your donation if you cannot do ship it yourself. (We have a limited number of sponsors to pay for shipping in such cases.)

If you meet all of the above criteria, let us know at risk focus att earthlink dott nett . (In order to use the above email, turn the att into an @ and the dott into a . and remove the spaces and doubled t at the end. Sorry for the inconvenience, it's the only way to guard against spam). Information to include in your email:

  • Your address
  • The basic information about your computer: MHz, MB of RAM, GB of hard disk, other periferals if any.
  • How long you expect to be able to store it
  • If you plan to be out of touch / unable to send the computer for two consecutive weeks or more during the next 4 months, include approximate dates.
  • Whether you can pay for shipping
  • Whether you are willing to drop off the computer if the "ant" who will carry it is in your area.
  • If it is not a single, standard-sized desktop model, the packed size&weight category:
    • "Just a computer": Not more than 11kg, 40x50x30 cm (25 lbs, 16x20x12 in)
    • "Computer & Surge Suppressor": Not more than 15kg, 55x50x30 cm (33 lbs, 22x20x12 in)
    • "Computer & UPS": Not more than 18kg, 60x50x30 cm (33 lbs, 24x20x12 in)
    • "Something Small": Not more than 6kg (15 lbs), varying but reasonable dimensions. Perfect category for laptops or a quality surge supressor.

We will put you on a list of computer givers. The next time an "ant" offers to carry a computer, we will give you their address and their planned departure date, with at least 3 weeks' notice in general. (We will NOT use or share your email for any other purpose without your express permission). If you can't pay for shipping, we will help arrange it. You will pack up the computer and ship it to them. ALSO, fill out and print out a copy of this form, and send it with the computer. This will let us know what we're getting and serves as a "just in case" document for the courier to show customs in the almost inconceivable case that they get hassled.

If at any time you decide to dispose of the computer by other means, just let us know, and we will take you off the list.

DonatePartner Schools

In Antigua:

We are currently developing partnerships with the most respected Spanish schools in Antigua. If you have a school, check this page (in Spanish) for participation details. If you have a good experience at an Antigua school, let us know, and we'll contact them.

Other places in Guatemala:

Instituto Patzite, Momostenango - A small but professional family-run school in small-town Guatemala. Near Xela/Quetzaltenango; a little towards Mexico from Lake Atitlan.

DonateCarry a Computer from the US to Antigua

- How To -

If you are going from the US to a spanish school in Antigua, and you can take an extra piece of luggage on the way down, you can help us by carrying a computer (or peripheral). We have arrangements with many of the schools in Antigua, so you can bring the computer directly to your school and we'll pick it up from there.

Most people who travel from the US to Antigua prefer to go directly from the airport, and many Spanish schools actually provide transportation, so all you will probably have to do with your extra box is get it on the plane and then off the plane into the transportation provided. If you do NOT plan to go directly to Antigua on arrival in Guatemala, let us know what you're planning at jquinn+hormiguitas@cs.oberlin.edu. This email is in Guatemala, and is checked only on the weekends (when small-town public school teachers can make it into the big city), so it may take a couple of weekends to get all the arrangements worked out, but there are many possible options.

Once you know the dates of your travel, contact us at risk focus att earthlink dott nett . (In order to use the above email, turn the att into an @ and the dott into a . (period) and remove the spaces and doubled t at the end. Sorry for the inconvenience, it's the only way to guard against spam). Information to include in your email:

  • Your address
  • Your travel date and flight info
  • What spanish school you expect to attend
  • Whether you'd like to visit a local middle school during your stay - visits are easiest on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
  • How much you can carry:
    • "Just a computer": Not more than 11kg, 40x50x30 cm (25 lbs, 16x20x12 in)
    • "Computer & Surge Suppressor": Not more than 15kg, 55x50x30 cm (33 lbs, 22x20x12 in)
    • "Computer & UPS": Not more than 18kg, 60x50x30 cm (33 lbs, 24x20x12 in)
    • "Something Small": Not more than 6kg (15 lbs), varying but reasonable dimensions
    • Note that these are upper limits, you will probably be carrying something significantly smaller.
  • Whether you can pick up the computer if the donor is in your area

You will then recieve an acknowledgement by email. Later, you will be shipped the computer. Pleas open it to confirm that it is legitimate, so that when they ask you in the airport "are you carrying any bags not packed by you" you can honestly answer NO. There is no need to plug it in or open up the computer, although you can if you want to.

On arriving in Guatemala, you must fill out a customs declarations form which includes at the bottom a list labeled "Detalle de Mercancias Sujetas al Pago de Impuestos/Detail of Goods Subject to Tax". Do NOT include the computer in this list. The computer is worth well under the $500-per-passenger tax exemption and thus is NOT subject to tax. (Also, relax. There are no customs duties charged at the Guatemalan airport. For details of the Guatemalan regulations, see the FAQ).

You will probably walk directly out the door of the airport into the transportation you will take to Antigua - either one provided by your Spanish school or one of the private taxis or shuttles who charge about $10 for the ride. You can leave the computer at your Spanish school and we'll come get it. Thanks!

DonateHow do we use the computers

The host middle school for las Hormiguitas Educativas is the Instituto Básico por Cooperativa in La Trinidad, about a half hour south of Antigua. This school serves 3 communities between two rivers which grow impassable during heavy rains or volcanic eruptions. La Trinidad is 135 families of ex-refugees, who fled to Mexico after their town was burned and were relocated to this area after the peace was signed. Las Cañas is 30 families of ex-coffee workers, who lost their livelihood when coffee prices crashed around 1997, and in compensation got the deeds to the little houses they'd lived all their lives in. And San Pancho is 120 families of indigenous campesinos who organized themselves to buy the land using government mortgage loans given in compensation for losses (of family and property) during the war.

At the Instituto, we open the computers, make sure they work, and install our packet of Spanish-language educational software and documents. This step will also provide valuable experience to the students here. In the initial stages - until we have 15 machines for our computer lab here in the host school - we will keep 2/3 of the computers (randomly selected) and sell the others for the cost of their monitors to other middle schools that serve disadvantaged (rural, indigenous, and/or poor) populations. We will also give some training to support their use of the computers. Once we fill the computer lab in La Trinidad, we will pass on all of the computers at cost.

The computers have many uses. First off, they will enable schools to offer diploma certificates for typing and computation, which are required for middle school graduation. Thus, students will be able to graduate without the prohibitively expensive step of commuting to private urban technical schools - and the school itself can earn a moderate income charging the reasonable public-school fees for the same training. Secondly, we will provide each computer with set of CD's containing reference materials, literature, and educational programs for use in teaching. Finally, we will make sure that all the computers have basic spreadsheet and word processing capability to help the schools with their accounting and paperwork. Entrepreneuring schools may even rent out the computers at certain hours for these purposes, thus providing another source of school funds.

DonateFAQ

Table of Contents

1. HormiguitasFAQ

1. HormiguitasFAQ

1.1. Who are you, and why do you speak such good English?
I'm Jameson Quinn, my Guatemalan wife and I are teachers (and de facto everything else) in a rural middle school south of Antigua. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and used to be a computer programmer. Perhaps one day, if the INS (CIS, whatever) decides to let my legally-married wife into the country, I will live in the US again for a time, but Guatemala is my home now. The two of us are working in exchange for a rent-free house in the community and one salary for the two of us.

1.2. Is this all completely legal?
Yes. As a tourist, a used computer and accessories is within your personal allotment.

1.3. What, specifically, is the relevant law?
Firstly, on the US side, you are not allowed to carry on the airplane any luggage not packed by yourself. Thus, you should open, visually check, and reseal the computer before your trip. It is not necessary to plug in the computer to check it. On the Guatemalan side, relax. The customs agents in the airport were useless for doing anything but taking bribes, so the new president closed the office. What you are doing is 100% legal, but even if it weren't there would basically be nobody who would bother you about it. On arriving in Guatemala, you must fill out a customs declarations form which includes at the bottom a list labeled "Detalle de Mercancias Sujetas al Pago de Impuestos/Detail of Goods Subject to Tax". Do NOT include the computer in this list. The computer is NOT subject to tax. As explained in unreadably small print in section 2 on the back of this form: (I'm copying the English translation on the form, leaving the grammatical errors as is. The Spanish does not have the "unless" clause.)

2. EXEMPTION FOR MERCHANDISE DIFFERENT FROM THE LUGGAGE:
The traveler will be able to introduce with exemption of duties and taxes, merchandise that bring with himself, different from luggage, whose total value in customs is not superior to the equivalent to five hundred american dollars (US $500), unless the national legislation establishes a greater amount.

All regular luggage (clothes, toiletry, etc.), including your own laptop computer if you bring it, is covered by section 1 and thus does not count towards this $500. Separate from this form, you will have a page that lists the contents of the box with their values (manifest), which will total to less than $300.

1.4. Where do you get the computer monitors?
We buy them. See next question.

1.5. How can I donate money to this project?
Thank you for asking, we can use the money! The "hormiguitas" computer project needs a limited amount of money - essentially, enough to pay for computer monitors and gas for transportation within Guatemala, about $55 per computer. If you want to donate for Hormiguitas or to support public education in Guatemala by sponsoring a middle school student, see this link.

1.6. Can I volunteer to help you in Guatemala?
No, thank you, but if you send me a clear explanation of who you are (including skills, language and otherwise) and what kind of volunteer opportunity you're looking for I may well be able to put you in touch with an organization that can use your help.

1.7. Can you use any non-computer items?
Of course. We can use any school supplies - science supplies (thermometers, magnifying glasses, etc.), maps and/or science wall charts, books in spanish (or beginner-level but not infantile English), markers, regular office-supply stuff (staplers, paper, pencils). If you have something of this nature that's worth having someone carry, let us know and we will use the same system as we do for computers. For the more everyday items of this nature, if you are coming to Antigua and you can bring them along contact us and we'd be glad to pick them up.

1.8. What do you mean by "public (and semi-public) schools"?
Guatemala has among the lowest tax rates and the highest rates of corruption in Latin America. Given that, it's not surprising that the Guatemalan system of public education is desperately underfunded. The government recently invented the "cooperative" type of public school, where the national and county governments each pay a measly sum to the school, then pass the buck for all other responsibilities (from curriculum to buildings to teachers' benefits) to a local parents' committee. Further impossible restrictions have the effect of making the schools look more impressive on paper, but in reality they are always small and struggling and owe their existence more to creative fundraising (and not the occasional bake-sale, I know of more than one school with an actual bakery) than to the government money that is supposedly supporting them. But the government doesn't always have enough money even for this mendacious form of "paying" for education. Many a school has struggled - and functioned - for years to acheive any official recognition or support. These are the "semi-public" schools, public in the sense that they have open admission and are supported by the community, but not officially recognized as such.

1.9. I know of a Guatemalan middle school that could use some of these computers...
¡Qué bueno! We are in touch with a couple of networks of progressive schools and to start out with we're distributing the computers through these networks, but as this project takes off we are ready to expand. Write to me here.

1.10. ¿Hablas español?
¡Por supuesto!

1.11. ¿Existe una versión de esa página en español?
No, lo siento.

1.12. How can I be sure that all of this is on the up-and-up, that you're not just making a profit off of these computers?
It's a good question. For instance, I was talking about this idea with a person who has an incorporated charitable foundation here in Guatemala, and he said "great, we'll lend you the name of our charity for tax purposes and we can go in 50/50 on the profits"*. So please, ask me any question to check up on me, the records of how this works are completely open.

(*Clearly, that was the end of that conversation. Rights Action/Derechos en Accion, who are serving as the legal charity for accepting donations both in the US and Guatemala, are impeccably honest and more than helpful.)

Copyright (c) 2002 Jameson Quinn

This list of questions and answers was generated by makefaq.

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