AdaZ reading volunteers wanted
AAA volunteers wanted for educational-training activity “They are young + they need code”
BGLUG and FABLAB Bergamo are looking for volunteers to promote the training project proposed by the Free Software Foundation Europe aimed at elementary school children and titled “They are young + they need code “, and therefore they need your help!
The help requested covers one or both of the following points:
- Being a reader or tutor for the activity with children
- Contacting schools/teachers and proposing the activity to them (facsimile request)
What it is about
The activity is aimed at children ages 8 to 11 (3rd-5th grade in elementary school).
The underlying goal is to communicate the value of free software, the importance of being able to control the technology we use, and how to collaborate to improve it, as best we can, through an educational and training project, using the tool of fairy tale and animated storytelling, involving children and educators.
The activity lasts about two hours and is paced as follows:
- introduction to and knowledge of the children
- explanation of what the Free Software Foundation is
- animated and participatory reading of the book Ada & Zangemann
- break
- performance of the collaborative activity indicated on page-9 of the Volunteer Information Sheet
- dismissal and gift to children of coloring pictures to color at home from the book, some stickers or other gadgets if provided by fsfe
The book Ada & Zangemann
The book “Ada & Zangemann - A Fairy Tale About Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream” is a children’s picture book written by the FSFE president with a view to better communicating the values of free software and control of technology, and thus for educational purposes.
The famous inventor Zangemann lives in a huge villa high above the city. Adults and children alike love his inventions and are desperate to have them. But then something happens: when Zangemann wants to take another close-up look at his inventions during a walk through the city, a child hits him in the shin with the skateboard. That hurts! Enraged, the inventor makes a momentous decision… The clever girl Ada sees through what is going on. Together with her friends, she forges a plan.
This illustrated book tells the story of the famous inventor Zangemann and the girl Ada, a curious tinkerer. Ada begins to experiment with hardware and software, and in the process realises how crucial it is for her and others to control technology.
A book that arouses children’s interest in tinkering and encourages shaping technology. From age 6 to 106.
Buy the book o borrow it from the library.
Event held at the Nembro library in September 2023
On September 16, 2023, on the occasion of Free Software Day, a book reading was held at the Biblioteca Centro Cultura Tullio Carrara di Nembro, followed by the scooping of ice cream prepared by an FSFE volunteer. The reading did not follow the format now proposed by FSFE, the children followed the reading by sitting on mats and then playing with stickers, coloring boards and spending an unforgettable afternoon. And for a good time, we were also noticed by a famous local newspaper.
How you can help from a distance
One way to help is to contact school teachers and propose the activity to them. Forward them the project and if necessary arrange a meeting that we could attend. Only after making contact forward the facsimile request to the school secretary.
Download facsimile (plain text)
Download facsimile (.odt version)
How you can help in the presence
Do you enjoy reading in public, entertaining, children’s entertainment? Come and read the story of Ada&Zangemann. If you don’t feel up to it, contact one of our volunteers and help with the preparations. You will see that the next time you will be the reader. It is a fun and engaging activity, made so especially by the liveliness, never absent, of the little participants. Do you have ideas for the activity after the reading: come forward! Last year one of our friends and volunteers dressed up as an ice cream maker to everyone’s delight :)
Other
We are an association of volunteers. If you would also like to help us in other ways, by suggesting new ideas or even just coming to meet us, we would be happy to welcome you. Visit the page with all useful information.