Computer training for all

The DreamConnect Computer Education programme provides students from government and corporation schools a chance to get exposure to IT for free, says Sonali Bhatia

It’s a computer training programme that seeks to hone other skills as well. The DreamConnect Computer Education Programme looks to give students from Government and Corporation schools a chance to get exposure to information technology, and to impart some presentation skills and enhance social awareness, free of charge.

Besides learning about computers, teenagers develop self-awareness, build their interpersonal and communication skills and are given a grounding in problem solving and decision making.

After eighteen sessions spread over three weeks, thirty three young adults proudly make a presentation to an audience at the DreamConnect centre. Pairs have chosen various topics, which they have to put across within three to four minutes. Presentations are in English or Kannada or a combination of the two. Using Power Point, students project information on to the screen and give the audience a brief glimpse of subjects that range from the personal (the advantages of honing presentation skills), to the national (the evils of dowry and child labour) to the global (human rights). They talk about industry, agriculture and fundamental rights, and describe the role of various freedom fighters in the struggle for independence. They analyse the need for education and decry superstitious beliefs and practises. One presentation takes us on a quick trip around the world, with the seven wonders.

Insights

There are some interesting insights – in a presentation on ‘decision making’, Raj enumerates the steps to making a decision — recognising options, prioritising them and taking action, adding succinctly that ‘no action is also a decision!’ Talking about advantages of industrialisation, Manjula is quick to caution against its drawbacks, too — ‘industries should not cause pollution’, she says.

As each pair completes the presentation, others applaud heartily — acknowledging not only the skills and knowledge displayed, but the dawn of a new era of computers for all!