NEWS ARCHIVE - 1999/2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
LEASED LINE FOR SCHOOL: SAF has provided Dr. Hesabi High School, Varamin with a dedicated leased line for Internet access, which became active this week. Hesabi is now the 6th school in Iran to obtain a dedicated connection, after Roshd High School's leased line in June. A web camera donated to the school is also now operational. Photos
SCHOOLNET NEW DOMAIN: SCHOOLNET now has its own web server and domain name in Iran: With many added features, as well as homepages of all connected schools, it can be viewed at http://schoolnet.ir
LIFE-LINK COOPERATION: SCHOOLNET has established a working relationship with Life-Link, Sweden. Life-Link Friendship-Schools is an independent Non Governmental Organization which aims to promote contact and cooperation between young people around the world and their schools, through active participation in shared projects in the areas of Environment, Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Constructive Collaboration.
Details of Life-Link visits to Iran, as well as activities at Farzangan, Hazrat Massomeh, Hedayat, Mahmood Afshar, Janbazan, Motahareh, Saniefar, Shahid Mehrnami, Shahid Heshmati, and Shahid Mahdavi schools can be read at http://www.life-link.org/schoolList.html
ONLINE COURSES: Two courses, one on Calligraphy (by Hedayat High School teacher Mr. Mohammadi Tabar), and the other on Visual Basic (by a graduated student of Hedayat, Mr. Emdadi) are now online at SCHOOLNET.
NEW/UPGRADED SCHOOL COMPUTER SITES: On Dec. 11, 2000 a pre-university girls school in Roudsar (Bent Al Hoda High School) was connected to the Internet via Guilan University. The network connection and computer facilities were provided by SAF and made possible through a generous contribution by a SAF donor, and efforts of the Guilan University computer center staff. The school can be reached at hoda@kadous.gu.ac.ir
Also connected were two schools in Gaz-e Borkhar, a deprived area near the city of Isfahan which were equipped with computer labs and Internet access, thanks to the generosity of a donor family. These are the Hooshmand (boys) and Erfani (girls) High Schools. Photos
On Dec. 10 SAF also completed provision of computer labs and net access to Alzahra, Roshd girls, and Shahid Rajaee (Islamshahr) High Schools, and Ibnesina Middle School. Each school was equipped with 10 PCs, a printer, and a scanner. Photos
SAF is currently in the process of upgrading the PCs of several exemplary schools, as well as providing them with printers and scanners. Photos (Alzahra), Photos (Roshd)
INTERNET WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOLS: From Nov. 28 to Dec. 7 2000 Akbar Zahiri, a SCHOOLNET administrator, held introductory workshops on local area networking, Internet, and Windows for teachers at the following schools:
Classes for principles and administrators are usually held on Thursdays and Fridays and are always exceptionally well attended by an enthusiastic group.
Additional photos of the classes
SECOND SCHOOLNET GATHERING: A large gathering of all member schools of SCHOOLNET was held on Nov. 29, 2000 at Roshd High School in south Tehran, attended by all 22 school principals, administrators, and computer teachers, as well as many students.
The meeting opened with a welcome speech by Mr. Enayatpour in which he talked about paying more attention to Internet activities and Internet based education in schools.
This was followed by a speech by Abbas Edalat in which he strongly urged the education officials to invest more in providing nationwide Internet connectivity to schools, highlighting benefits that other third world countries such as India have gained from such investments. Addressing the students and faculty present, he asked them to concentrate their energies on a revamping of the educational foundation of Iran in order to bring it up to the standards of the developed world in science and technology.
Toward the end of the gathering, SAF's executive director in Iran, Yahya Tabesh presented awards to the winners of the "First SCHOOLNET Competition on Homepage Design", and asked the students to challenge themselves even more and set an example for other students and schools in Iran. Event Photos
VISITS BY SAF PERSONNEL: Two schools equipped with computer labs and Internet access were visited by SAF volunteers on Nov. 19, 2000. Students and teachers of Hedayat and Alzahra High schools in south Tehran warmly received the Abbas Edalat, and Rasoul Oskouy, accompanied by Akbar Zahiri. During the visits, talks were held with students and faculty about Internet related activities and usage in the schools, and a brief presentation on the topic was made to teachers of Hedayat High school. Event Photos
CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL AWARD: SAF founder Abbas Edalat gave a 40 minute presentation at the Kish award ceremony for the best annual contribution towards promotion of science in Iran. The two top prizes went to The Children's Book Council (which SAF had already equipped with computer/Internet connection) and The Women's Society against Environmental Pollution, which SAF is now supporting with computer/Internet facilities.
THE IRANIAN INTERNET: SAF, in cooperation with the Open Research Network, releases the 1999 survey of the state of the Internet in Iran.
MEETINGS IN CANADA: SAF's director, Dr. Abbas Edalat, held three informational meetings on his Canadian visit - one in Toronto, and two in Vancouver.
Flyer (in PDF): English
THE FIRST IRANIAN SCHOOL JOINS I*EARN: Teachers from Hedayat High School (near Abu Zar Square, Tehran), one of SAF's first projects, have joined the International Education and Resource Network (I*EARN), a network of school children and teachers in 88 countries across the world. I*EARN organizes Internet-based school collaborative projects on the international scale. I*EARN has facilitated educational and development projects since 1988, pioneering an "interactive" approach to using educational technology by encouraging students to actively contribute to, rather than just passively "surf" the Internet.
FIRST SCHOOL HOMEPAGES: The first Iranian schools and teachers have set up their homepages in the newly redesigned website of SCHOOLNET in Tehran. A homepage competition is also organized between the schools.
SCHOOL INFORMATION CENTER ACTIVITIES: During the summer vacation, Tehran's School Information Center has organized teachers' training courses on two different levels for schools connected to the Schoolnet. Summer courses in schools and student working groups have also been organized.
NETWORK AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY: With a grant from the Jephcott Charitable Trust in the UK, SAF has provided the Tehran Medical School assistance to establish an Internet/computer site for students. SAF has also reconstructed the LAN network of Farzanegan High School for girls in Tehran.
SAF MEETINGS IN THE US: In a series of successful meetings in California, including at Sharif University Reunion 2000 in San Diego, SAF's program received a huge welcome. You can now view the promotional presentation at these meetings. Several organizations, including the Society of Iranian Professionals, and some new local groups have declared their support for SAF.
CHARITABLE STATUS IN THE US: Science and Arts Foundation has been approved by the US Internal Revenue Services (IRS) as a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Science and Arts Foundation USA is an independent entity with similar goals as Science and Arts Foundation in the UK. SAF's tax identification Number in the US is: 13-408-7316. For details on SAF's US bank account and donations, please visit our Support page.
SAF PRESENTATIONS: SAF held three information meetings in California on June 10, 2000 (Los Angeles), June 11, 2000 (Santa Ana - Irvine), and June 18, 2000 (Sunnyvale). Material from Dr. Edalat's presentation is available here: Microsoft Powerpoint (2.1 Mb), Adobe PDF (4.1 Mb, high bandwidth), Adobe PDF (1.3 Mb, low bandwidth).
TWO NEW SCHOOL COMPUTER SITES: SAF is providing computer/Internet sites for Hooshmand High School (Boys) and Erfani High School (Girls) both in Gaz-e Borkhar, a deprived area near the city of Isfahan. SAF has also completed its projects for computer sites and Internet access in Farzanegan and Fatemiyeh girls high schools in Islam-Shahr. The total number of school computer/Internet sites is now 18, with 8 boys' schools and 10 girls' schools.
FASTER INTERNET CONNECTION: SAF's Schoolnet at Sharif University of Technology has now access to the University's new 2Mb/512Kb dish, which provides a much faster connection for the 16 school computer sites in Tehran and its neighbourhood.
LEASED LINE FOR SCHOOLS: SAF has provided Roshd High School (Naazi-Abad, Tehran) with a dedicated leased line, which became active this week. Roshd is the first school in Iran to obtain such a fast Internet connection.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/INTERNET SEMINAR: Two seminars for promoting IT in education took place in Tehran in May: one at Roshd High School for model state schools in Tehran and the other at Sharafat Teachers' Training College for all teachers' training colleges in Tehran. In both seminars, Yahya Tabesh, SAF's executive director was the key-note speaker.
TEACHERS' TRAINING COURSE: SAF has successfully completed a training course in IT and Internet for high school teachers in Tehran. It took seven weeks and was run at the Schoolnet Center.
FUTURE PROJECTS: SAF is now seeking support to establish School Information Centers and school computer sites in Isfahan, Rasht, Shiraz, Yazd and Zanjan.
PERSIAN DIGITAL LIBRARY: The Persian Digital Library is a project funded by SAF to provide the invaluable collection of Persian literature to the public. Persian Digital Library is now online from Sharif University of Technology.
ONE YEAR OF SAF ACTIVITIES: SAF was
founded in March 1999 at Imperial College (London). It is now one year
old and a registered charity in UK and the US.
In 10 months of activity in Iran, a number of projects have been completed thanks to the selfless effort and the great support of donors, volunteers and activists around the world, which has all made it possible to turn the initial idea into reality.
BOOK DONATION:Thousands of books have been donated to schools, higher educational institution and local libraries
LOCAL SUPPORT GROUPS: Local support groups have been organised in various cities; in US these include Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC.
FUTURE PROJECTS IN IRAN: SAF is now seeking donations to set up a computer site for students of the medical school of University of Tehran and to establish School Information Centers and school computer sites in Isfahan, Rasht, Tabriz, Shiraz and Yazd.
PILOT PROJECTS IN ARMENIA: With the support of the UK charity Free Computers for Education and Armenian expatriates, SAF is providing four schools in Armenia (school no. 114, the Yerevan Physics & Mathematical School and school no. 53 in Yerevan, and the Lord Byron School in Giumry) with computer sites.
SAF'S PRESENTATION IN WASHINGTON DC: There will be an introductory meeting by Professor Abbas Edalat, SAF's founder, at House of Iran, McLean, Virginia (http://www.houseofiran.com), on Thursday 3rd February. For details, click here.
SCHOOL NET: SAF's School Information Center at Sharif University is constructing a web site (http://schoolnet.ir) which will have information about schools on-line in Iran, including their home-pages.
COMPUTER SITE FOR TRAINING COLLEGE: SAF has provided a computer site for Sharafat Teachers' Training College (Tehran), which in particular prepares prospective teachers for IT education.
SCHOOL COMPUTER SITES: SAF is now providing two more schools with computer sites and Internet access: Imam Sadegh High School (Boys, Tehran) and Noor High School (Girls, Tehran). The number of completed school projects is now 13. SAF has also provided computer facilities and Internet access to the Mathematics Publication Bureau and the Children Book Council, which produces the Farhang-Nameh Kudak, a Youth Encyclopedia.
ONLINE PERSIAN DIGITAL LIBRARIES: With
the collaboration of an expatriate in the West, SAF has initiated a
project with students at Sharif University to develop three educational
sites in Iran:
1. The Persian Digital Library collects in one site the works of
prominent Iranian scholars throughout history.
2. Persian language Developers Site brings under one roof all
the tools needed for Persian language programmers and lists all the
programs available in Persian.
3. Persian Shareware provides a site for students to register
programs they develop and share them with others.
It is hoped that this project will spur interest and excitement among
students from schools equipped with computers and allows them to
participate in the development of the sites.
MILLENNIUM PROJECT: At the turn of the century, SAF has launched a campaign to set up computer sites and Internet access in 19 more schools in Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Shiraz, Rasht and Mashad with a School Information Center in Tabriz.
US VISIT SUMMARY: In December, 1999, during a two weeks tour of the US by Professor Abbas Edalat, SAF's founder, several meetings were held in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Bay Area, Boston and New York to promote SAF, including meetings at Univerity of Southern California, Stanford, MIT and Columbia.
CHARITY REGISTRATION: SAF is now a registered charity in both US and UK.
SCHOOL INFORMATION CENTER: is now set up at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran in order to coordinate its activities in schools. A second school information is now being set up in Isfahan.
SCHOOL COMPUTER SITES: In the past two months, SAF has equipped five more schools with computer sites and Internet access: Hessabi School (Boys, Varamin), Ershad School (Girls, Varamin), Alborz School (Boys, Tehran), Zaynab (Girls, Shahre-Ray), Danesh (Boys, Tehran). The number of completed projects is now 11. SAF has also provided computer facilities for Raad Educational Institute for the disabled in Tehran.