Raspberry Pi in Zambia

I went to Zambia in January with a colleague, his wife and seven Calvin students. We partnered with EduDeo ministries to help equip rural Christian schools with computers in eastern Zambia. 

Our trip was not without challenges. Although we arrived as planned, our suitcases were one day late – and one student’s suitcase was never found. In another adventure, our vehicle ran off a rough road when a steering tie rod broke loose. But these traveling inconveniences were inconsequential compared to some of the challenges we observed in the schools.

In some schools, resources are limited and electrical power is unreliable (or even nonexistent). At one school without electrical power, we saw a power cable leading out a window to a long chain of power bars connected to a nearby house to access power. Even when computers are present in schools, they are often old, unreliable and plagued with computer viruses and outdated software.

After seeing firsthand the challenges with educational computers in several majority world countries, I have been working with EduDeo ministries to explore the use of a new educational computer called the “Raspberry Pi.” It’s a nifty little computer about the size of a deck of cards and capable of running a wide variety of powerful programs while consuming only about three watts of power. It includes wi-fi networking capabilities and uses a regular keyboard, mouse and monitor. Moreover, it can be purchased for about $65 U.S. Although it was originally developed for computer education and hobbyists, the Raspberry Pi has proven to be an appropriate technology for use in many schools in majority world countries.

What’s more, a single Raspberry Pi can be configured as an open wi-fi access point capable of distributing a plethora of educational materials. This platform, called a RACHEL Pi (Remote Access Community Hotspot for Education and Learning), provides an “internet in a box” for places that do not have access to the internet. Together with a colleague and a Calvin computer science student, we adapted content for the RACHEL Pi, including materials from Calvin’s Kuyper Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning as well as science demonstration videos created by a former colleague from Redeemer University. 

Vibrant Christian schools
With assistance from a generous donor, we traveled during Calvin’s interim period to help equip six different schools with Raspberry Pi’s, RACHEL Pi’s and other computer equipment. Together with the Calvin students, we also presented a three-day workshop to help encourage teachers and share how the gospel and a Christian worldview can inform teaching, learning and computer technology. We were privileged to watch the equipment we brought being installed and used at several schools, and to see the delight of the teachers and students as they explored the Raspberry Pi and RACHEL Pi.

Prior to our trip to Zambia, I received a curious e-mail out of the blue from a place called African Christian University (ACU). The sender indicated that they had read my book and wanted to invite me to come and give a lecture on faith and technology. My first instinct was to wonder if it might be spam. However, after making a few inquiries, I discovered it was from a new Christian university in Lusaka, Zambia. Since this city was part of our planned itinerary, I was able to give a lecture for ACU and was delighted to meet with their faculty. It was wonderful to hear about their anticipated growth and their shared vision for Christian higher education.

So while we witnessed challenges, we also witnessed signs of hope. I attended churches that were overflowing with people and services full of hearty singing (one service lasted nearly four hours!). I met dedicated teachers, vibrant Christian schools bursting with students and a growing Christian university animated by a Christian worldview. It was a privilege to see firsthand what God is already doing in places like Zambia.