Qinaya Success Stories
Computers for Students at Antonio José Camacho University
Problem:
The Antonio José Camacho University is a Public institution in Cali, Colombia. It primarily serves students from socioeconomic strata 1, 2, and 3. It is estimated that 40% of university students currently pursuing degrees lack a personal computer.
Intervention:
To improve student performance, a call for applications was issued, selecting students to receive a Qinaya computer for home use. The requirements included having a TV and internet access at home.
Results:
- Over half of the beneficiaries use their Qinaya weekly, with one in three using it daily for more than two hours.
- Students no longer need to travel to distant, costly internet cafes to access a computer.
- Qinaya computer usage remains steady at 80–90% monthly, with non-users reporting internet or TV issues.
- Monthly usage totals over 1,500 hours on Qinaya computers.
Closing the Digital Gap for Comfandi Members
Problem:
Comfandi, a family compensation fund that operates in the Valle del Cauca, serves over 1.2 million workers and their families. They aim to improve the quality of life in the region. Comfandi aimed to provide its members with home computers to enhance training opportunities, including access to online education platform Platzi.
Intervention:
Comfandi used a state subsidy to purchase 80 Qinaya computers for 80 families. A selection process identified candidates with internet service and a TV at home. Qinaya customized the computers with direct access to Platzi and other platforms like Duolingo.
Results:
- Between 20.33% and 25.42% of users consistently used the device for two or more hours daily.
- Program members used Qinaya in order to access Qinaya and Platzi ranked as the third or fourth most-used application among beneficiaries.
- Platzi usage objectives were met by Comfandi members.
- A notable example is Natali Bonilla, a 39-year-old mother and worker at Pollos Bucaneros (chicken farm), who used her Qinaya to train on Platzi, earning a job promotion.
Qinaya Classroom at Santa Librada School
Problem:
Santa Librada School in Cali faces challenges common to many Colombian schools: expensive, quickly outdated computer equipment and poor computer literacy among students. The current model for supplying computers in schools is economically and environmentally costly and delivers subpar service.
Intervention:
Qinaya classrooms address these issues. At this school, computers destined for disposal were refurbished with Qinaya licenses. Today, a fully functional lab benefits over 900 of the school's 2,400 students. These computers, running Linux, were customized to meet the needs of students and teachers.
Results:
- Teachers are satisfied as they can now utilize class time effectively, without delays caused by slow or outdated computers.
- Students can access programs like Scratch, Visual Studio Code, and Swift, working in real time with teachers thanks to the efficient and user-friendly devices.
Empowering Palmira's Brightest Students with Qinaya
Problem:
The Palmipilos program in Palmira, Valle del Cauca, aims to strengthen high school technical programs with quality and relevance. However, students lacked computers at home to practice or apply their technical knowledge.
Intervention:
The Mayor of Palmira prioritized providing computers to students completing technical training to maximize their education and facilitate access to higher education. The municipality purchased 400 Qinaya computers, tailored to the students' technical training needs.
Results:
- One in three active students uses the Qinaya computers monthly.
- Over half of the active population uses the devices daily.
- Students have reported using their Qinaya computers for higher education.
- Families also use the devices, especially siblings.
- Professional orientation sessions provided students with tools to explore their career paths.