Rural Students Computer Literacy Training Programme In India - Computer skill Education

Updated Achievement Report:

Thanks to the generous contributions from corporate donors and support through CSR grants, we are thrilled to share a heartening success story. We have established computer labs in 3 middle schools in Karasangal,Athanachery and Kovur villages, situated in the Kundrathur block of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India. This remarkable endeavor has made computer education accessible to over 432 students annually. In addition, we have appointed a dedicated 2 teachers to provide comprehensive training to these students.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the donors whose support has made this transformation possible, truly illuminating the lives of these students. Your contributions are set to leave a lasting impact on their lives.

Presently, we are in need of funds to sustain the "salary of the 2 computer educators". Those interested can contribute to cover one month's salary, which amounts to $150 or Rs.12,000.

Current Requirements & Project Details for Two Additional Government Schools:

Proposed Project Objectives:

- Provide computer education and life skill training to rural government school students.
- Equip students with computer skills and foster their personality development.
- Enhance self-confidence to apply acquired knowledge for their future development.
- Deliver basic computer skills and self-awareness through life skills training.
- Reduce student dropouts in public schools.
- Strengthen public schools by offering quality education to children from low-income families.

Project Rationale:

Sustainable Development Goal 4, focusing on inclusive and equitable quality education, is the cornerstone of our project. Education is a fundamental human right and a catalyst for various other human rights. Quality education plays a pivotal role in lifting socially excluded children out of poverty and integrating them into society.

WEEDS operates in collaboration with 1485 women Self Help Groups (SHGs) across the districts of Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Chengalpet, and Chennai suburb districts. In addition to raising societal and economic awareness, we are actively engaged in community development efforts. During our interactions, we observed that several government/public schools lacked computer lab facilities. These students primarily hail from underserved rural communities, and many of them are children of women in our Self-help groups.

In the course of our fieldwork, we discovered that these children lacked computer literacy and essential life skills. Tragically, many of them chose computer science as their major subject in higher secondary education without a fundamental understanding of computers. This deficiency has profound consequences, as it hampers their progress during college education, internships, and projects. Consequently, they often end up in low-paying jobs in textiles, jewelry shops, garment factories, and other low-grade employment options.

We have witnessed countless children from our SHG families who, despite completing their degrees, are stuck in low-paying jobs due to a lack of computer knowledge and skills. In today's digitally-driven world, where nearly all daily activities involve technology, we firmly believe that providing students with basic computer knowledge and life skills training is a stepping stone to a better quality of life.

Moreover, life skills training is indispensable in nurturing well-rounded youth. Thus, combining computer literacy and life skill training will empower students to excel academically and thrive in various aspects of life.

Implementation Plan:

To set up the computer lab, we will purchase computers, tables, chairs, and educational materials. A dedicated facilitator will be trained by WEEDS to teach students in both schools. This teacher will visit the schools twice a week to provide computer training and conduct life skills classes on Fridays.

The trainer will mentor and train students in essential life skills, covering topics such as self-awareness, empathy, critical thinking, creative thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, effective communication, interpersonal relationships, coping with stress, coping with emotions, and financial literacy.

Beneficiaries :Government/ Public schools teen students from grades 6th,7th & 8th.

Duration of the Intervention: 5 Years

Project Outcomes:

- Our computer education program will equip students with fundamental computer skills.
- The life skill training will enhance students' personalities and attitudes.
- The combination of computer literacy and life skills training will be life-changing for rural students.
- We anticipate a substantial increase in student enrollment in public schools.

Project Budget: (Budget is calculated for 1 school and 1 year).
This Project is sustainable as it will benefit for 5 years.

Non-Recurring:
Computers with UPS (8 sets) : $1976 / Rs. 1,60,000
Computer Tables and Sitting Desks (8 sets) : $680 / Rs. 55,000
Educational Materials (Text Books): 150 No's : $186 / Rs. 15,000
Writing Notebooks: 150 No's : $111 / Rs.9000

Recurring:
Computer Educator Salary: $150 per month (12 months): $1800 / Rs.1,44,000
Repairs and Maintenance: : $108 / Rs.8,640
Miscellaneous : $62 / Rs.5000
Project Coordination Cost for 1 Year : $362 / Rs.30,000

Total Budget for 2 Schools: $8,408 / Rs. 6,79,280 /-

(Note: 1 Trainer/computer educator will be assigned to train in 2 schools)

(Please note that the budget is subject to slight changes during the procurement of materials and equipment.)

We invite companies to collaborate with us to implement this program as part of their CSR initiatives. Interested donors and employees are encouraged to refer our program to their Heads, CSR teams, and managers.

We urge donors to utilize their Rewards, Volunteering Grants, Matching Grants, Employee Incentives, and share information about this project with their colleagues, friends, and family.

We kindly request donors to share their contact information (email or phone number) to receive project updates and encourage them to share this initiative with their networks.

If you have any questions or wish to explore potential collaborations with this project, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

Email ID: weedsindia@gmail.com or frm.weeds@gmail.com

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to empowering rural students with the tools they need for a brighter future.