Squeak International Live Video Conference

February 28, 2008

SeaGate Institute of Technology, Nepal in association with Institute of Education in Zama city, Kanagawa in Japan and Satomi Kuwanara organized the International Squeak Live Video Conference for the second time in the history of Nepal on February 28, 2008 in Shuvatara High School, Lamatar premise in Nepal and Higashihara Primary School, Zama City, Kanagawa in Japan. The program was also supported by Yoshiaki Hayasaka, Toshio Miyasaka and Kazuhiro Abe, Japan, Worldlink Communication, Nepal, Shuvatara and Higashihara school.

The conference was attended by students, teachers, parents, principals and other elite groups. There were about 400 people in the conference hall. The video conference on Cultural Exchange between Nepal and Japan was held in the presence of Prof Dr Tulsi Dibas Joshi as the Chief Guest.

Squeak is an Open Source programming language developed to enhance math and science learning of the school children from class three to seven. It is the combination of paint brush and the animation tool which will help to develop new innovative ideas of the students as well as learn some interesting stuffs. It also helps students to understand Maths and Science in a better way.

More than three hundred students have participated in the Squeak training program from twenty five different schools of Kathmandu Valley. Out of the Squeak projects made by these two hundred students, only sixteen outstanding projects were selected for this event. These projects were presented by the students which were judged by the Japanese evaluators via Video Conferencing. Three winners got the special recognition and prizes.

Likewise, there were some Japanese projects done by the Japanese students. These projects were evaluated by the panel of Nepalese judges present in the program and the best three projects of the Japanese Students were also chosen. The best projects were demonstrated and announced through Live Video Conference.

Furthermore, students also performed some live cultural dance and Mr. Madhur K Shrestha, Director of SeaGate Institute of Technology said that this kindly of program will help international understanding and bring awareness in the available technologies and software. He also emphasized the importance of Squeak for children. He thanked everyone for their active participation and contribution. Special thanks were given to Mr Yoshiaki Hayasaka and Ms Satomi Kuwabara in Japan for their tireless effort to make this conference a success.

Squeak participants at Seagate	Audience at Conference	Squeak Participants at Conference
Program Inauguration	During Video Conferencing	Participants’ Introduction
Live Conference Preparation	Parents and Teachers	Audience from back
Cultural Dance Performers	Special Guests	Nepalese Judges
Offline Cultural Dance	Providing Appreciation Letters	First Prize Winner
2nd and 3rd Prize Winners	Group Picture	Volunteers