Some of you might have followed my volounteer work at the SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College in Tema, Ghana, where I was invited to introduce Linux at the school. Being a free software advocate, I thought this a great opportunity to spread Free Software where it can make the most difference and helps bridging the Digital Divide: In a developing country.
Judging from the offer (which was very nice, it included housing, flights, freight, money), I expected the school to be very eager to learn about Linux. I was expecting that I only had to guide existing momentum. What I found instead was that there was zero interest from the people who matter in this case. I got all freedoms to implement what I want (as long as I didn’t break anything), and I created some things I think are quite nice: Automatic installations that keep the installed windows intact, neat integration in the Active Directory setup, network monitoring with nagios, a transparent firewall that let’s the teachers turn the internet for the class room off and on. But it felt like working for nothing, and I can’t push people to use Free Software who are unwilling.
So today I drew the concequences and quit with effect to the end of December. The principal, who’s project it was in the first place, was sorry, but understanding of my issues, and accepted my resignation. I will be on a trip to the Volta lake and other parts of Ghana with friends from Accra for the next 10 days anywasy, so she will take the time to think and discuss how the school can make the best out of the remaining two months.
I have not giving up on spreading Free Software here completely. If I find another project where I can be of more use afterwards, I will consider that. But this time I’m going to be very picky where I go, and only take a shorter, better defined project. If I can’t find something, then that’s it and I’ll go back to Germany to continue my studies.
Have something to say? You can post a comment by sending an e-Mail to me at <mail@joachim-breitner.de>, and I will include it here.
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I think it would be useful to others trying to promote free software if you could do some kind of "what went wrong" assessment and share it with others who might want to promote free software in developing countries. Some things that occur to me:
- Maybe the right people never "bought in" to the idea in the first place; perhaps some high-level bureaucrat was sold, but his/her underlings were not, and then the Linux champion moved on to a better job.
- Competition with pirated Windows software that the teachers already know how to use?
- Rough edges that we geeks have no problems with but the teachers can't deal with?
- Interference from Microsoft sales people?
- Indifference, because computers of any kind are lower priority than other problems the schools face?