The One Laptop Per Child is a very interesting endeavor. This organization at its core wishes to distribute fully functional laptop computers to children and students in areas of the world which cannot normally afford to have them. Libya, Nigeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia, among others all have received these computers starting in 2007.
The computers are bought in bulk by the respective governments at a very low price, of about $100 to $200 dollars, and then distributed to children in schools and even sometimes children outside of schools, who are economically unable to afford a computer. In a PC World article, we see that Libya has committed to provide 1.2 million children with the laptops within one year while Rwanda will provide 2 million children with the laptops in five years.
Some of these children do not have the fundamental conceptual knowledge of what a computer is and what it does. This will help change that. If all a student does, is learn how to turn the computer on in a day, i believe it to be a successful day. Given an equal opportunity for children to develop and grow with an understanding of technology and how it functions gives them a better chance to make a better life for themselves and their family. OLPC is not merely limited to distributing these computers to children in African countries, however, there is a great need in this part of the world, and already, they have made a difference there.
For some to up to date information regarding this program: