When I was in primary school, probably around 10 yrs old, I took a summer course in computer programming. I didn't know anything about computers except I was fascinated with them from the numerous scifi novels I read. This course was probably the most important thing happening for me in primary school.

I remember programming the computer, with Logo I think, to draw geometric shapes of different colours. I was awestruck, my future was set. A few lines of logical text represented infinite possibilities. I grasped the magic behind the logic. Computers and programming was my destiny, and even if I didn't follow the obvious path from there, programming, adapting and bending digital technology has been a fundamental part of my life.

This is why I am passionate supporter of the One Laptop Per Child project by Nicholas Negroponte.

Some place, somewhere, a kid will get one of these laptops, and he will experience the magic of programming and make his own way. Some will use it for malice, some as a regular tool, but some as a path. You can do anything with this laptop, it is completely open. The possibilities are exceptional. This is what I love, this is what somebody else could love.

I don't think this will solve the world's problems. Maybe it will create more problems than it will solve. It is not a solution. it is a possibility, and I prefer the latter over the former. Don't fix people in need, help them fix themselves. This could mean several nations could skip the entire industrialization step, jumping from agriculture to information technology. I choose to be naive and hopeful for this project, I think it is needed, it is so easy to write this off as techno fantasy. It's not.
 
Right now the OLPC is offering a Give 1 Get 1 program, where you buy two computers, one of them is shipped to you and one is given to a child in need.

I have tried ordering a G1G1, but there seems to be a problem with my order. Maybe they don't like me using a buffer courier, I don't know. And I can't get them to respond to my enquiries by email. I know I'm not the only one, looks like they have failed somewhat with their business model for the G1G1 program. Which is too bad, because this laptop should be produced, produced, produced and available, available, available. I will keep a close eye on this.

Wikipedia article on the project, on the laptop, OLPC's own wiki.