Hormiguitas Computinas

Computer Ants

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

Have a used computer? Donate it.
Can you carry a computer to Antigua, Guatemala? Let us know.
Want to know what we do with the computers? We use them in middle schools.
Other questions: FAQ

Donate your Computer

- Desired Specs - How To -

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 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.)
• 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 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

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. Please see

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.

Carry 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 . 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, which will include a document for you to print and show to customs in Guatemala. Later, you will be shipped the computer. Of course you are welcome to open it to confirm that it is legitimate, but there is no need to do so, you can take it directly on the plane if you wish.

How do we use the computers

- How To -

The host school for las Hormiguitas Computines 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 were organized enough to buy the land with the support of government loans given in compensation for losses (of family and property) during the war.

At the Instituto, we open the computers and make sure they work. 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.

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. 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.

FAQ

If you

1. Hormiguitas FAQ

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 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. Where do you get the computer monitors?

We buy them. See next question.

1.4. How can I donate money to this project?

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. But, if you want to support public education in Guatemala

1.5. 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.

1.6. Can you use any non-computer items?

Of course............................

1.7. 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.

1.8. 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.

1.9. ¿Hablas español?

¡Por supuesto!

1.10. ¿Existe una versión de esa página en español?

No, lo siento.

1.11. 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.