Creating Pathways Center and Computer Lab opened its doors to single moms and pregnant unwed young women during the Ebola Crisis. Since then hundreds of youths have become computer proficient. This has opened up new opportunities for them and expanded their horizons. Our lease for the facilities is up for renewal in March 2018. This project will help to cover the continuing costs of salaries for the teachers, property lease, printer for lab and electricity, internet access and other utilities.
Thousands of youths in Sierra Leone are computer illiterate. Due to their family economic background, they are not able to attend commercial computer classes. Computer proficiency is essential in today's computer-driven society. Because they do not have this essential skill, they are excluded from securing jobs and hindered in their pursuit of higher education.
This project will help cover the continuing costs of salaries for the teachers, property lease, printer for the lab, utilities - electricity/back-up generator maintenance, fuel, and internet access. The lab will be able to continue to provide youths with the computer training they need to move on to the next step in their career - find a job or go on to university. By covering these costs, we will be able to provide computer training at a very discounted rate that the youths can afford to pay.
Computer training is an effective long-term investment. It helps to eradicate poverty by enhancing education, broadening options and opening the door to new opportunities. It offers great potential in terms of exposing children and youths to much-needed computer technology and related opportunities. This exposure is helping to prepare them for our technology-aided world and for positions of future leadership. It is helping to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education - UN SDG # 4.