Cissoko, who joined Brown's Police and Security Services in 1993, came to the United States in 1975 to obtain his masters and doctorate degrees. He has visited Senegal several times, most recently in 1994, when he returned to Lycee Alpha Molo Balde, which has a dozen or so classrooms, each packed with 50 to 60 teenagers seated four to a table and eager to learn.
"`Wait a minute,' I thought to myself," Cissoko recalled recently. "These kids are smart. But they don't have any computers. They're lagging behind even other schools in Africa. If they had the means to get to the Internet, they could increase their knowledge."
The principal of the school confirmed Cissoko's thoughts. "We have to catch up," the principal told Cissoko. Schools in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, have computers, but government assistance to prepare students for jobs in the 21st century stops at the borders of Dakar, some 475 miles from Cissoko's hometown. Knowing that the government would not come through with technology, the principal asked for any assistance Cissoko could provide.
Cissoko returned to Rhode Island with a mission: to acquire computers to send to the high school.
Many of the students in the high school Cissoko attended are bright enough to succeed in college, but most have no experience with computers and the Internet. "If you have no notion of computers, you have no way to compete," Cissoko said. "For many, college may even be the first time they ever see or touch a keyboard," a definite disadvantage for students who attend college in Dakar, Europe, or the United States.
When Cissoko first began his quest to find computers to send to Senegal, he received a couple of 286s with pieces missing. Although he was glad to receive the donations, he now hopes to pick up the pace and raise the bar. Cissoko seeks donations of used computers, preferably 386s or better.
"Perhaps Brown or someplace in Rhode Island can become a sister high school," he suggested, or perhaps a group, club, fraternity or sorority could sponsor the project as a community service.
"I will deliver the donations personally if need be," and will seek assistance from Senegal's ambassador in Washington, D.C., he said.
Cissoko, a self-acknowledged two-finger typist, was introduced to computers in 1990. "I am not a computer whiz," he says, laughing, "but I know that if you don't have a computer these days, you're in trouble."
Anyone interested in donating computers or in helping Cissoko find sponsors and donors to expand his project may contact Cissoko at Police and Security, 863-2542, or via e-mail. - Tracie Sweeney
Do you know someone at Brown who has an interesting avocation or public service project? Call the George Street Journal at 863-2476 or send e-mail to Tracie_Sweeney