George Bush Visits Local Projects in Brazil, Underlining the Importance of AMD’s 50x15 Partnership
3/23/2007
Mrs. Laura Bush, President Bush, founder Flavio Pimenta (second from right) and the Meninos do Morumbi band during the President and First Lady’s trip to the organization, which is also one of 50x15’s four Brazilian Learning Labs
During their recent five-nation Latin American trip, President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush visited Meninos do Morumbi, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) comprised of over 4,000 underprivileged children and teenagers in the city of São Paulo. At Meninos do Morumbi (literally translated as Boys from Morumbi), students (girls and boys) participate in activities such as dance, music, photography, and sports, and take classes in English and computer studies. One of the organization's primary goals is increasing digital inclusion and computer literacy among youth in Brazil, a natural fit for the 50x15 Initiative, founded by AMD.
AMD is a technology partner of Meninos do Morumbi through the 50x15 Initiative, whose mission is to enable affordable, accessible Internet connectivity and computing capabilities for 50 percent of the world's population by the year 2015. As a 50x15 Learning Lab, Meninos do Morumbi's Digital Inclusion Center is equipped with 35 Internet access devices enabling an exciting new world of possibilities to the Meninos youth.
President Bush and his wife Laura's tour of Meninos included the computer classrooms and a special musical presentation. President Bush took part in the Brazilian music and dance, playing an instrument with the Meninos players, a well-traveled troupe whose 70 road performances last year included a concert sponsored by AMD at its Global Vision Conference last September.
Laura Bush also visited another NGO supported by 50x15, the Oldnet project. Created by Café Aprendiz, the Oldnet project enables children and teenagers to teach senior citizens to use computers, work with e-mail and surf the Web. Laura Bush knew the project and talked with four Oldnet students. Chloe Siqueira, an 80-year-old student, told Laura Bush she has already learned to use the Internet and tools such as instant messaging and Internet telephony.
Mrs. Siquiera recently said the following about Oldnet: "...Oldnet is the accomplishment of aged people. It is not only wonderful, but one can prove that though advanced in years, one still has abilities to learn anything. Because people my age, they say 'I don't want to learn anything. I can't.' Of course they can. They can learn anything. All it takes is wanting and going after it. That's what I did at Oldnet and Aprendiz. I'm learning and I'll continue learning forever."
President and Mrs. Bush's visits to Meninos do Morumbi and Oldnet underscore the significance of both programs in Latin America as well as their importance in promoting digital inclusion and the 50x15 Initiative.
Click here to view the slideshow of President Bush's visit to Meninos do Morumbi
| Timeline: 50x15, Meninos do Morumbi & Oldnet |
March, 2007 — President Bush visits Meninos do Morumbi and Laura Bush visits Oldnet facilities in São Paulo, Brazil
December, 2006 — Oldnet Learning Lab is launched in São Paulo, Brazil, benefiting both senior citizens and youth with Internet access and computing capabilities. Click here to register to download the Oldnet Learning Lab capsule
October, 2006 — Meninos do Morumbi Learning Lab Capsule is published. Click here to register to download the Meninos do Morumbi capsule
September, 2006 — Meninos do Morumbi plays at Global Vision Conference
May, 2006 — AMD Chairman and CEO, Hector Ruiz, visits Meninos do Morumbi
April, 2006 — 50x15 Meninos do Morumbi Learning Lab is deployed, featuring more than 30 Personal Internet Communicators (PICs) and monitors in the digital inclusion center and beginner computer skills classroom |