COMPUTER LITERACY CLASS FOR 30 INDIAN GIRLS

Hello friends,

It is my pleasure to express my gratitude and appreciation for all the support you are giving us.You will be glad to know that our ‘Computer Literacy Project’ has been a great success so far. We are able to open a new world of knowledge and digital literacy to many who have not even dreamt of using a computer. The ability to use internet for simple tasks like ticket booking, search engines, have made their life much easy.

National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) Scheme has been formulated to impart IT training to 52.5 lakh persons so as to enable them to actively and effectively participate in the developmental process and also enhance their livelihood.IDEA wants to contribute towards this aim and has started this project called ‘Computer Literacy’ to provide computer training to marginalised communities in Pune. IDEA also started e-learning classes for the school going children at our study centres to make our educational activities interesting and effective for under privileged school children.

IDEA has completed two batches of computer course under NDLM scheme.  In our first batch 25 young womencompleted the course where as 26 women completed the second batch. Our current batch has 45 students. Many young women who could not continue their education because of various reasons are attending the course. Learning to use computers and internet will empower them to have digital literacy skills. It will help them to develop skills needed to interact with the digital world and to keep them informed of the new schemes and benefits.

Aarti’s Story:

Aarti is an 18 year old girl from Pune who is attending our NDLM course. She is a 12^th standard student.Her family includes herself, her parents and younger brother who is in 9^th standard. Her father works as a watchman and her mother as a maid. Alcohol addiction is a big problem in India, her father is also is a prey to alcohol. Aartialso has to work as a maid servant after her school hours and in holidays. Her mother expects her to discontinue her studies after 12^th to earn more and support the family.  Aarti knows that she can get a better job if she learn to operate computer and internet. As she cannot afford to pay the fees of computer institutes she could not join anywhere for a course. When we started our NDLM course she enrolled herself immediately and hopes to get a job as soon as she completes her 1 month course. The course covers basic computer operations like MS office , Internet..etc. which will enable her to get a job as an office secretary. Aartiis  determined to learn new skills and technology and she is confident of getting  job soon after her course.

E-learning at our study centers

  Computers and e-learning  have promised to expand the basic nature of education, such as the ability to link written with audio and visual material that can enrich the full range of the learner’s senses. But access to computers and e-learning in marginalized communities and rural areas is either non-existent or very limited. Taking this into consideration, we have decided to start e-learning class at one of our IDEA study centres. At present 28 children from 3 different communities participate in the e-learning classes being conducted in the Kothrud study entre. They are from 5^th and 6^th standards. We use academic software from a local IT firm, which covers the syllabus of all subjects in Marathi Language.

We have noted that the children are showing great improvement and interest in studies after the introduction of the software. Sometimes the teachers and text books fail to give the correct explanation of scientific nature of certain things, proper explanation of mathematical concepts, correct pronunciation of English words..etc. The e-learning software with its audio visual explanations helped to create interest in children for learning new things. Parents are happy that their children are getting exposure to technology driven education. After seeing the positive impact, we are planning to start this method of teaching in all our study centres.

Thank you Donors !

We are extremely grateful to all our supporters for making our work possible with your generous contributions. Please continue to help us to so that we can bring more people from under privileged community to the digital World of information technology.