OLPC-toting Rwandan students flock to airport for free WiFi

OLPC may be facing some tough times as of late, but there's no denying that the little-laptop-that-could has made an impact where it's been distributed, as evidenced by this latest indication of the project's reach in Rwanda. Apparently, in addition to helping students with their schoolwork, the laptop is also teaching them the fine art of finding free WiFi, and this particular group seems to have quickly discovered that the Kigali International Airport is one of the best spots in town. And just what are they using the laptops to look up in their time outside the classroom? Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme, who, coincidentally, also brings the world together in his own special way.

[Image courtesy Anna Koblanck / DN.se, thanks Jonas]

[Eric Matthews @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:37PM]

These are the faces of Ebay frauds...

[Moofree @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:39PM]

The guy in the blue shirt is a Rwandan prince.

[whowhatme @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:46PM]

yeah, stirring words for the third world kids who are finally joining the global community. fuckers.

[jollyllama @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:23PM]

That's not racist at all. Only a real asshole would look at a child and assume because of the color of his skin and where he was born that he'd become a criminal. Go to hell.

[From My Cube @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:03PM]

why is it that every other race but white is allowed to be racist and its funny...but when a white person says something racist its wrong?

[kazo @ Feb 24th 2009 12:27AM]

You know that's not true.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:50PM]

I'm black and find this whole thing amusing... Continue on guys...

[Steve @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:23PM]

When people make fun of the Scots for being cheap and having sex with sheep you don't see me bitching. Now if you'll excuse me I have a date and I gotta go withdraw $5 bucks to pay for it.

[brian @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:25PM]

how is this racist? YOU are the one who associated the joke with skin color.. i associate it with people stealing wifi.

[Flashpoint @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:06PM]

This isn't racist.

All of those kids are Angelina Jolie's.

...now.

[chispito @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:24PM]

Perhaps it was not a comment on skin color, but on continent of origin. I'm not sure about you guys, but I haven't received an Australian general scam email for awhile.

[abelIAN @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:34PM]

yeah, i guess it's more reasonable to automatically assume that any person from a given continent is a criminal than to be racist

[OneLove @ Feb 24th 2009 11:39AM]

I think the ebay scam country is called Nigeria...Hes googling AK-47 :)

[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (BarCODE) @ Feb 25th 2009 11:31PM]

@Steve, Please turn down your overactive sensitivy meter and put away that damned race card.

I believe he's referring to the geographic location of Rwanda where a lot of internet fraud comes from and not the ethnicity of the people.

[Mark @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:16PM]

We can't even get food into the region without it being stolen. How hard do you think it would be for them to spot the only green thing in the region and confiscate that for terrorist purposes against their own people? But then again could we take a terrorist seriously if they were spotted using the little green machine for evil purposes?

[ronald.raygun @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:41PM]

ah, internet porn finding its way on to the OLPC. finally they get to experience what its like being a 13 year old male in the western civilization

[rndmnme @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:50PM]

Worse yet, the discovered etrade and now go on red bull fueled day trading sprees.

BUY! SELL! CRAP, I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE SHORTED FDO!

[ImaYam @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:58PM]

I am voting you + only because I feel i can relate to your joke, and know what you are talking about. I doubt many else will.

so heres your +.

[+]

[Steve @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:41PM]

That's the little bugger who's wants to send me $100,000,000 for safe keeping.

[beautiful gorgeous @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:03PM]

hahahaha that is the funniest thingi have seen all day!!

[Platinum_Skeet @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:22PM]

Man that made me laugh...lol

[CJ @ Feb 24th 2009 12:32AM]

And really, how can you say not to that face?

That widdle iddle biddle faaaace.

[eRamzi @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:44PM]

is that slickdeals they're on?

[Samboini @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:19PM]

No, Engadget; they are eyeballing what gadgets to buy once they have conned more Westerners out of credit card details.

[V Langs @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:46PM]

wow...why can't we all be happy that they're getting to experience what we do day in and day out?

haha instead we scoff at the scams that the country produces

(for the record, I laughed too...)

[CraigJ @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:17PM]

It's possible to be happy for them and have a sense of humor at the same time. It's not like the story is about them dying from AIDS and making fun of that.

[bailystevens @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:46PM]

So this is how people from nigera keep sending me spam emails...

[Qcpu @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:48PM]

I'm sure they are looking at Engadget in that picture.

[Uncontrol @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:48PM]

in after racists

[Hey Ya @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:50PM]

In after the douche bag who thinks he's smarter than the room.:)

[Uncontrol @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:51PM]

in this case i do think that yes

[pavlindrom @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:53PM]

in after the room

[Hey Ya @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:06PM]

You're a moron. People aren't making racist comments.

[CraigJ @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:21PM]

Who's the more racist? Someone who cracks a non-racial joke about some people that happen to be black, or the person who sees racism in a joke that has none simply because the subjects are black?

[Uncontrol @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:23PM]

i'm gonna say it's the commenters who can't see black kids taking an interest in technology without thinking of nigerian e-mail scams

[Mike10010100 @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:21PM]

Come on you guys! Haven't you ever seen Avenue Q?

"Everyone's a little bit racist sometimes! Doesn't mean we go around committing hate criiiiiiimes."

[CraigJ @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:35PM]

confusing Rwanda for Nigeria != racism.

[Adderz @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:24PM]

I upranked you.


Its not stringing people up and burning them but its subconscious racism when the first thing you think of is scammers.

Its a little funny yes, but on the whole, unnecessary.

[Twitchtastic @ Mar 2nd 2009 5:44PM]

@Mike10010100

Yes, and it also says "The Internet Is for Porn". Surprised I haven't seen more of those jokes.

[indigo_theatre @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:48PM]

The one in the blue is trying to figure out how to tweak his ferocious OLPC to handle Crysis

[maveric101 @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:34PM]

do they have OLPC's with Windows yet? if so they could at least play Starcraft.

[Hey Ya @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:49PM]

Smart kids.

It's funny how quickly people adapt.

[Patrick @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:53PM]

An orangutan could pose the same picture...these little turds don't have a clue what they are doing and you are ignorant for giving them such undeserved credit. Who do you think you are, I mean, really?

I just don't understand why they NEED to have internet access, or computers in general. Obviously they will flock to locations where it is free, rather than work a nine to fiver and entertain the thought of actually paying for such it. It's like the beings in these third world cultures have a free pass to rely on hand outs. This same culture I speak of has carried on fine with out technology, why now do we feel obligated to show them such generosity when they have shown us so little.

I guess I just long to see a day when people will get what they put it. Don't get me wrong, these degenerates deserve a chance at a better future, but the internet is crowded as it is..if it's something they can live without, I think we are doing more harm than good.

[jack @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:44PM]

no offense to you patrick,

but GO TO HELL.

[afallnstar @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:10PM]

Patrick, you are a fucking moron, these kids having internet access provides them with access to a whole world that to date, they have been completely unaware of. They should have an opportunity to access knowledge, develop their ideas and dream just like we did. I mean lets be realistic, what have you done to be deserving?

[chef @ Feb 25th 2009 3:45AM]

Better that they're wardriving than being driven to war.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:50PM]

I smell piratebay franchise!

[robspiro @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:16PM]

That's right, every african is either a 419er or a prince...

[AmyFan @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:52PM]

Hah, well way to go. Seriously though, Microsoft needs to get their s**t together and put XP on those XO-1s, so that at least the kids can learn what actual computers do ;p

[Michael Scrip @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:04PM]

I agree.

Instead... they are probably getting on Myspace.

OLPC-FM... One Laptop Per Child - For Myspace!