[SLL] light and modular webmail for children?

[Jeremy C. Reed]

Any suggestions for an open source webmail solution that can be easily 
stripped down, simplified, themes (friendly graphics) updated, so can be 
easily used by young children (or a real beginner to email)?

My preference is C or perl based, but I will look at others too. (I'd 
rather not use java.) I'd also prefer not to require a database server. 
Also hopefully it is efficient on low-powered hardware.

Something with AJAX would be interesting.

(In the meanwhile, I am looking at ripping out features of openwebmail.)