Profile : Children are gadget friendly -Desire Rwagaju

Desire Rwagaju has worked as the Learning Development Officer of the One Laptop per Child Association (OLPC) since 2009. He enjoys training children on how to use their XO laptops to make documentaries through shooting videos on several topics. Even though Rwagaju is great with kids and computers, he is a graduate student of Applied Microbiology a field he attained from Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). He was born in Bujumbura the capital of Burundi on September 25, 1986. He attended his first elementary education at Ngagara Primary school before he moved back to Rwanda after 1994. “I moved back to Rwanda with my family after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi since my parents couldn’t wait to come back to their homeland,” he said. After settling in, Rwagaju joined Rilima Primary School and later went to Groupe Scolaire Rilima in Nyamata, Bugesera District in the Eastern province of Rwanda, for both his O and A’Level education. He later joined KIST where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Applied Microbiology. Speaking about the OLPC camp, Rwagaju said that, under the theme, ‘A Day in Life Documentary Camp’, children were able to use the XO laptops to shoot documentaries—something considered to be a professional skill. “Questionnaires were offered during the camp to determine how the XO laptops have affected the children’s lives both at school and at home and, in their response we got to know that their parents also use the laptops,” Rwagaju said. Elijah Ninziza, a Grade five student at Green Hills Academy was part of the camp, and he appreciates the teaching methods of Desire Rwagaju. “Besides teaching me how to fully use my XO laptop to do several things like making a documentary, he is friendly and kind,” Ninziza said. Julia Reynolds Caroline, the Learning Field and Development Coordinator for OLPC, further confirms Rwagaju’s student-based teaching methods that have made students love learning computers. “He is a great person who is funny and outgoing: He is able to relate with children and makes them feel comfortable,” Reynolds said. Rwagaju said he was surprised at how easy it was to teach computer skills to children as compared to teaching adults. “Children are more gadget friendly than adults because they are quite adventurous,” he said. According to Rwagaju, children easily operate their parent’s phones even before parents understand its functions—this he said explains why their minds are active and more receptive towards learning new things. “When I was a child my dad bought a big radio, I was the one who taught him how to operate it. This means that children are naturally gifted when it comes to using gadgets,” Rwagaju emphasized. In his line of work, this tech expert trains school teachers in computer skills so that they can be in a better position of helping students. On the subject of children accessing pornographic websites and other adult sites using their XO laptops Rwagaju said that, “Everything new in society has both advantages and disadvantages.” However, he adds that, “Equipment like Servers and internet services have been installed in schools where students have XO laptops. With the availability of Servers in schools, children cannot browse certain websites and set keywords which make it difficult to access any kind of pornographic material.” Even with such extensive internet censorship, the XO laptops have the wireless option and this cannot be controlled. “When at home they could access the hotspot networks and therefore, it is important for parents to watch out for what their children are doing on the laptops. In my classes, I have never seen children access such material,” Rwagaju said. When it comes to his personal life, Rwagaju says he is not in any relationship—he is very single and searching.He said, “Besides being physically beautiful and loving, my dream wife should be a hard working woman who aims for greater heights.” Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk His favoritesDish: Chips and vegetables Colour: Khaki Car: Mercedes Benz Music: Hip Hop Artist: The late Michael Jackson Sport: Basketball and swimming Quote: ‘The only person who can stop you from what God wants you to become is yourself.’