Computer Literacy Project
The mission of SSF’s computer skills training Project
can be summed up as, “increasing a wareness of the role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the Cambodia’s Poorest Communities.” By giving children from poor rural backgrounds increased access to computers and information technology, SSF has sought to reduce the discrepancy between the quality of education between rural and city students. Lack of computer proficiency is one of the main problems that prevent rural children from being able to attend college, where computer skills are a must. The fear is that at children from poor rural backgrounds will fall too far behind to catch up to students with access to higher quality education, effectively barring them from the chance to ever attend and graduate from college.
SSF’s Computer Skills Training Project was established in early 2008 with partial funding from the Riverkids organization, based in Singapore. At the projects onset, one class was set up twice a week to allow supported children the chance to learn how to use computers. The first step was to teach the children how to use Windows XP, the operating system used in the majority of Cambodia’s businesses and universities.
Because most of the children lack a high enough
level of English proficiency to type in English, the next step was teaching them how to use Khmer Unicode and Khmer Limon typing methods that allow them to use their native language on and off line. After learning the most basic of computer skills, the curriculum expanded to teach children how to use Microsoft Office, including training in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook, Publisher and Visio.
However, overwhelming demand from participating students and the lack of sufficient computers in addition to the need for a dedicated volunteer willing to teach the classes has thus far prevented the program from achieving all of its goals. This year, SSF is seeking to find donors willing to sponsor its computer literacy project.
SSF currently has 4 old computers; a number the organization seeks to increase by fifteen in order to better meet the needs of the participating students. In total, the projected cost of creating a new computer lab and hiring a teacher for one year will be 8,400 Dollars. Read detailed project was submitted to the Global Junior Challenge 2009