For N. Kalpana, class X student, flipping through the manual that has over dozen chapters and getting hands-on training in computer operations remained a dream for a long time, but not anymore.
Similarly, D. Ganesh, class IX student, had never heard of the concept of email until recently. Today, he knows how to send and receive mails and is quite excited to see his inbox flooded with messages from his friends.
Like these two, students of Visakha Seva Sadan Primary and High School share how they could login to the system, send mails, compile documents and transfer data without any hassle.
Imparting free computer education to students of the school studying classes VIII to X , members of Samarth 16, a voluntary organisation, has embarked on an endeavour to make computer education accessible to the deprived sections of society.
Consisting of students from various colleges and a few entrepreneurs, the organisation started with an army of 10 volunteers in December last. Samarth 16 focuses on not just imparting computer skills but also setting up a computer lab on the premises. “The idea is to provide both practical and theory classes to students. This is possible only when they gain access to computers along with quality training programme,” Saket Garg, founder of Samarth 16, said.
While volunteers visit the school on a weekly basis to teach the students, the lab has been set up by getting computers from other sources. “Round Table India donated seven computers. Further, volunteers were trained by NIIT-Vizag before they impart technical education to students,” Mr. Saket said. Supported by coordinator of the orgnisation Monika Garg and volunteers, Samarth 16 has so far provided computer education to 100 students. The team aims to empower over 2,000 underprivileged students with computer literacy by the next academic year, recruiting more volunteers.
