Damus
Joe Nakamoto profile picture
Joe Nakamoto
@joenakamoto
Today I visited a school for mentally challenged and disabled kids that didn’t have a lick of AC.

Classrooms do have ceiling fans but they do sweet fuck all when it gets to a certain temperature.

It was 35 degrees + humid today but felt like 42.

That’s like when you open the oven door to check on your chicken.. every time you step outside.

Why was I there?

Well bitcoiners at btccuracao funded the school’s brand new WiFi.

I wanted to see the impact of this donation and speak to a poorer community about their experience with btc.

Btccuraco paid the internet company that installed the WiFi in Sats as part of the donation. It’s one of many grassroots initiatives they undertake to try to show that bitcoin is better money.

The new WiFi is a total game changer for the school and the teachers were tearful explaining how much it has helped them teach, inspire and lead these less fortunate kids.

But it only goes so far.

The solar panels atop the school’s long roof “stopped working” this week.

A govt contractor installed the panels this year as a “go green” initiative.

Long story of govt enraging incompetence short, basically half the school had working WiFi + ceiling fans. Sometimes the electricity simply cuts out.

So one half of the school had classrooms of engaged kids with YouTube access + useful visual aids for the kids in a semi manageable heat

while the other half slowly cooked and tried to read books in the inferno.

My white shirt was wet and transparent by the time I finished the school tour. I was like how the feck are these kids gonna get a chance in life?

I interviewed the head of ICT who was gushing about the new WiFi and was saying how some of the kids can now learn to code with this Minecraft coding thing.

She had the biggest heart. But like many islanders she had been crypto scammed a few years ago and was still really reluctant about bitcoin.

Really saddening because of course no sane person thinks “oh yeah I’m gonna learn about bitcoin now I sold my gold necklace for a crypto thing 5 years ago and never got the money back.”

I managed to send her some sats to say thank you but if I’m honest I think it’s coz I was recording this during the interview.

In all, I left the school utterly humbled and a little bit angry at the world.

I don’t have a nice thing to round off on, sorry.

Bitcoin doesn’t fix everything. And some things utterly suck.
5315❤️98🤙22🫂8♥️22💜2
John James · 104w
All we can do is make the best impact we can, each day, and chip away at the mountain in front of us… zoom out, breathe deep, and keep helping others 🫡
47 · 104w
real and heavy af Brining attention to these realities is a great act
AntStrong · 104w
And here I was slightly bothered that my daughter's school doesn't have an actual gymnasium. Perspective matters and it's important to learn about these harsher realities out there.
Hodl Harry · 104w
At least you did a good thing and tried even more. They will come around eventually. Good job! 💪
VampireMJ · 104w
Nobody says it fixes "everything" but nothing fix as much things as bitcoin. I hope the best for those kids. 🫂🫶
Jake Woodhouse · 104w
Telling good stories is a crucial part of this whole journey. Reality. What’s going on? Who’s there? How are they surviving? Well done Joe. You’re doing a great job. Some parts of life are simply unfair. Hard to witness in a sense. But if you can be proud of your interaction, then what’s mo...
Ryan Reynolds · 104w
I work in schools, in the midwest United States. I see mass incompetence, waste, and useless things being pumped into kids’ heads…….. BUT, the people who care for and teach the special needs kids are like angels in human form. Those kids make me reset my mood, feel so blessed, and restore my...
Ken Lazer · 104w
Bitcoin doesn’t fix things, people fix things. Bitcoin is just an amazing tool. It stills needs to be used by people to enact any change. Keep doing what you do, it’s making a difference. You are the people that can use Bitcoin for good change.
Justin_Tokyo ⚡️ · 104w
Thanks for shining a light on it !
Stelios · 104w
Thanks for sharing Joe. Sadly, assistance and services for disabled children, and adults, are under-funded and under-staffed even in developed countries. This is an issue that is close to my heart and that I am very familiar with. My little brother has been part of many such schools and instituti...
Chad Lupkes · 104w
Bitcoin does not fix anything. Bitcoin provides a solid capital foundation. so that we may build the solutions to the problems that we face.
Roark Janis · 104w
Thank you for sharing this insight. We have much to be grateful for while using the blessings of saving in bitcoin to do good and help those less fortunate
Kian Jer · 104w
Apparently the founding father of Singapore once said/joked that air conditioning was the secret to his country’s success. Its funny but its true. It enabled humans to function properly in warm regions without the abovementioned discomfort. Even machines need coolants to work properly.
The Tim · 104w
Bitcoiners Fix This… It’s not about the money, it’s about people like you who want to actually make a difference with their lives and help others. And even when you can’t do anything, you can make others aware. Stay strong.. you inspire me to want to help those around me too. 💪
Ernst Wittenschläger 🇨🇭 · 104w
Joe, check these guys out:: http://beekeebox.com/ May help with the intermittent electrical issues as their solution is battery-operated & rechargeable.
Knut Svanholm ∞/21M · 104w
In the long run, it does 😉
Bitcoiner Post · 104w
Bitcoin is a vehicle to help us fix things. For example stacking all the Bitcoin in the world won't make you happy. That' optional. In this case it won't make a solar panel work again, but it might replace one. It's there enable people to do more than they could had they never had it. The world ...
Toby McMann · 104w
Progress, not perfection!
Jerry Bature · 104w
Well done Joe. Regardless, Bitcoin fixes the world. We're just starting.
siggy47 · 104w
Thanks for the info, even ifit's depressing. I have spent a lot if time on Aruba, but I understand Curaco is very different. Any Geyser projects worth supporting?
Big Suboss Bear · 104w
I feel your frustration. But slowly, and surely and eventually, bitcoin's effect will rise through and stories like this will be a thing of the past. We are so so sooo early, you know how great bitcoin is and transformative it can be, and to be up close in the face of all the heartache and see how ...
🇵🇸 whoever loves Digit · 104w
Do they at least have access to cold water and/or ice? If not, it's much cheaper to have enough fridges and/or freezers and/or ice makers to keep every student supplied with cold water, ice, cold wet towels, etc. The money it takes to give half the school ACs could give the entire school cold water ...
Alexander · 104w
It’s so f.sad! You just want to help everyone Joe❤️
Sean · 104w
Read this in your voice Joe. The authenticity shines through. You do the people's work, sir. Great job sharing this story👏🏻
Paloma · 104w
I grew up dealing with this reality back in the Dominican Republic. The saddest part is, it's still THE reality in most Latin American countries. It's something Americans and foreigners will never fully understand. And no, Bitcoin doesn’t fix this.
Boadee · 104w
Does Starlink not help southern hemisphere and remote locations? I guess not
just one more thing · 104w
crypto really has tarred BTC with its shitty brush
Johntoshi Nashimoto · 104w
The poor kids. 😬🤯
Antares_offshore · 104w
That's how the tropics are, everything rots sooner...
tigs · 104w
@kdnolan @theschoolofbitcoin
Gowingnut · 104w
There's a piece of research somewhere on the internets that states If the temperature around you makes your body downregulate your body temp(sweat) It severely affects brain performance: cognitive, logical, all of it. I did myself experience this effect living on a beautiful caribbean sea town for s...
kman2140 · 104w
This would be awesome for students in #boneohackerspace to collaborate. We run multiple education programs through #Minecraft that could easily be shared. Do they have the potential to run a video conference with their current setup?
Iain S · 104w
Thank you for sharing this and for doing the work you do. Change comes slowly, but keep working at it … it does make a difference …