Richard Nantel

November 12, 2007 is the official launch of the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) initiative.

It’s been less than two years since Nicholas Negroponte presented at the World Economic Forum the idea for a $100 laptop that would be distributed to children in developing countries. High profile companies, including AMD, News Corp., Google, and Red Hat, quickly joined the initiative to help create a rugged, low-cost, Linux-based laptop.

Although the final cost is $199 per computer, the technology looks amazing, right down to the crank-powered electrical supply.

I can’t see any story being bigger than this in the world of learning in 2007. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, sums up the benefits of this initiative as follows:

“This is not just a matter of giving a laptop to each child, as if bestowing on them some magical charm. The magic lies within—within each child, within each scientist—, scholar—, or just-plain-citizen-in-the-making. This initiative is meant to bring it forth into the light of day.”—Kofi Annan

Would you like to support this initiative? Starting next week, buy two laptops for $399. One will be shipped to a child in a developing country. You get the other. Or, you can make a donation here.

Mr. Negroponte: thank you for reminding us that we each have the power to change the world for the better.