Help 500 Filipino Children be Literate in Computer

Bringing computer education to grassroots and countryside is CJFI’s slogan of this project.  In its own way, aims to contribute in reducing the gap of computer literacy among Filipino students in public schools and private schools.  In the Philippines as a third world country, it is a reality that students in private schools have advance computer literacy compared to their counterparts of students in public schools.  

Meanwhile while waiting for the completion of mobile computer van, CJFI’s IT Volunteer Teachers went to Tamayong IP community and conducted the community-based computer learning session.  Instead of a mobile computer laboratory, the IT Teachers had with them several units of laptops for them to be able to conduct the computer learning session.

It was indeed, a long awaited activity by the recipient-IP children in Barangay Tamayong who are part of the large segment of Filipino students studying in public schools with no computer unit.  Based on data, 60% of Philippine public schools have at least one computer unit.  The remaining 40% have no single computer.

The session ran for a couple of hours.  The progress was slow as most of the students are first time users of computer.  The IT Teachers had to start from the basics of a computer education. But it was a great success.  The students were so happy who showed their eagerness to learn the basics of computer.

“Nalipay jud ko na karun naa nay naga tudlo diri sa among Barangay ug libre sa computer kay way gastos. Karun kabalo nako unsaon pag encode, mag open og files. Nakat-onan pud nako kung unsa ang parte sa computer.” (I am very happy that now someone is teaching computer here in our barangay free and without cost.  Now I knew how to encode, and open files. I learned also the parts of the computer.), said an eighteen year old Ailen, a Grade 8 student from a public school in the barangay.

Aileen’s school is among the many public schools in the Philippines with poor facilities.  She narrated that her school lacks also reference and reading materials aside that it has no computer. “Pobre man pud ang eskwelahan dadtu-a, ang libro kay gamay ra kaayo na dili pa igo sa mga estudyante kay daghan man pud estudyante didtua.” (The school there is poor, the books are very few not enough for students because there are many students also.) Aileen described her school condition.

Our dear GlobalGiving donors and supporters we’d like to tell you that this project is unique. Why? Because what it does is exactly opposite to the traditional way of getting computer education.  It is not the students who will go to the computer school to learn computer but it is the mobile computer laboratory in a vehicle van manned by an IT teacher and a driver that will penetrate to interior barangays to bring the computer education to students right there at their community.  And it is entirely free for them.

So we’d like to touch your generous hearts once more to keep on supporting this project to allow us to do more of providing free computer education to 500 IP students. Our success is your success too as you are part of our team.

Thank you.   

Links:

• website

          Youths have equal rights to education but with the limited resources and the lack of opportunities for some, they settle down with families at a young age. However, April, a high school student, aims higher educationally. She dreams to graduate from college and then land a job that fits her capacity. Having been identified as one of the beneficiaries of the free computer literacy program, she sees this as an opportunity to improve herself, giving her an advantage when looking for a job in the future. “Excited na kaayo ko. Puhon kung makatapos ko ug eskwela, magamit jud ni nako ang akong matun-an sa pagpangaplay ug trabaho. (I am so excited. Soon, when I finish my studies, I can use whatever computer skills that I will learn in applying for a job.),”said April.

           Born to a farmer, she aspires to go beyond what others in their village her age have become- young mothers who live in poverty. Joselyn, April’s mother, shared that “when I was younger, I was not encouraged by my parents to finish school. For them, it was enough for me to learn how to read and write as I would just marry and have a family of my own just like the other girls in the village.”

          However, she has realized the importance of having an education. “Dapat gyud tagaan ug importansiya ang edukasyon labi na lisod ang among panginabuhian. (It is necessary to give importance to education especially now that our life is difficult).” Now, she motivates her daughter to finish her studies to have a better job someday. She is also thankful that her daughter is given the rare opportunity to learn how to use a computer. Without the program, they cannot afford such skills training.

           April is one of the 500 beneficiaries of the free computer literacy program in Barangay Tamayong, Calinan District, Davao City, Philippines. They were identified with the help of five social worker-volunteers from the Social Welfare Advocates Club (SWAC) and eleven youth leaders from the village. They had a brainstorming and planning session with CJFI’s project officer, Mineheart Tantoy. They divided themselves into three groups and conducted community immersion and home visitation where they interviewed the beneficiaries and some of their parents.

          Based on the data gathered, most of the beneficiaries come from families whose parents are farmers and land tenants. They value education but with its expensive cost, they tend to utilize their children in tilling their lands. However, they are grateful for the free computer literacy program and they promised to support their children in this endeavor.

          Like April, hundreds of youths are very excited to develop themselves in terms of computer literacy. You can help make this project possible by sharing your blessings through an online donation via Global Giving. Your support today will empower 500 more youths to have a greater advantage when they look for jobs and increased productivity in the workplace that can open more doors to various opportunities to access greater resources.

          Together we can help them change their lives. Let’s do it.