NEWS: Doing their bit

The corporate sector has lent a hand in the difficult task of tackling the digital divide.

A little bit of help goes a long way especially when trying to bridge the digital divide and several corporations in Malaysia have been doing their part for the cause.

Microsoft Malaysia is one of them. The software giant pledged to help bring technology to under-served communities through its Unlimited Potential initiative (UP).

GOOD WORK: Sandra checking on her students during a computer class at the YWCA centre.

UP focuses on digital literacy aims to create awareness on the importance of technology among NGOs in their working environments.

In its mission to better promote digital literacy among NGOs, Microsoft hands out grants to non-profit organisations to support technology training programmes, which range from the teaching of basic computer skills to the use of advanced business technology applications.

This year, Microsoft also awarded RM214,131 to the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in cash and software.

This donation was translated into free computer classes for women taking up vocational courses at the association's centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Sandra Simon, YWCA's project co-ordinator, conducts the computer classes at the centre.

She said that students who do not have any IT knowledge are paired off with those who have a bit during the classes.

"This way, they can help each other out," Sandra said.

Girls that attend vocational training at YWCA are taught computer skills to better equip themselves in the workplace.

Many of them attending the class wouldn't have been able to do so before due to financial constraints or simply because these classes weren't available for them.

Office tools

During the classes, students are taught how to produce simple Word documents, Powerpoint presentations as well as spreadsheets.

They are also allowed to surf the Web, under the guided supervision of a trainer, for information and other material.

"The class is great and if I have any difficulty I just ask Madam (Sandra)," said one L.Vijaya, 23, a personal care giver trainee at the centre.

Vijaya said the computer classes elsewhere are expensive so it is a great opportunity to learn at the centre.

Another student, K.Sembagavah, 18, is coached by her roommate, Sheryl Nez, 21, during lessons.

Nez took up basic computer lessons in school and is familiar with the PC, unlike Sembavagah.

"I didn't have the opportunity to learn computer skills because I was too busy with my studies," Sembagavah said.

The students, however, said that they found these classes too brief.

"It's a weekly session and we only spend two hours in the class," said one trainee who wanted to remain anonymous.

She said this was not enough time for them to learn and retain the lessons and would prefer if they could have the classes more frequently.

Larger audience

Local telco Maxis Bhd's has also offered a hand in bridging the digital divide by introducing technology to the under-served.

Its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes are targeted at rural communities that have limited or no access to ICT.

Being far away from ICT, Maxis' head of its CSR unit, Salmah Ahmad, said these communities fear ICT.

"When we showed them the computer, many were very apprehensive to even hold the mouse," she said.

Maxis' aim then is to create the awareness among these people and teach them basic tasks that can be done on computers such as typing documents and keeping tabs on their household expenditure using spreadsheets.

Another programme called Cyberkids, which targets school children, brings them from rural schools to a one-week camp to effectively train them to use ICT.

For this, Maxis works with the Education Departments in every state and has the support of the Ministry of Education.

Maxis' objective is to have a snowball effect among the rural communities when the participants go back to their schools.

"When they go back to their schools, they will set up a Cyberkids' club and in turn, teach children in their community," Maxis' Salmah Ahmad said.

During the camp, the children, who are accompanied by their teachers, are equipped with computers and round the clock Internet access.

They are also taught English and are required to speak the language throughout the week.

Not easy

The results are not really easy to achieve as Maxis' hopes rely on the infrastructure available in schools and also the principal's attitude towards encouraging the use of ICT in schools.

Another problem would be time constraints, Salmah said.

"They may not be able to fit it in because they are busy with the schools' curricular and co-curricular activities," Salmah said.

Maxis also tries to get the whole community involved in ICT through its CyberlinQ initiative.

Salmah explained that the method is to get members and non-members of the Cyberkids' club together to organise community projects.

"This is another platform for the Cyberkids to practise and learn ICT skills," Salmah said.

Apart from children, Maxis is also looking to work with other pockets of society that are affected by the digital divide – particularly single mothers and the elderly.

"These groups feel inferior or maybe shy when we hold our camps in schools and would send their children instead," she said.

So, to get around this, Maxis brings the equipment to the villages – be it long houses or settlements under the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) scheme – through the Titian Teknologi programme.

The challenge would be to set up their equipment especially where there is no electricity supply.

"But we are determined to create awareness about the use of ICT," Salmah said, and this drives them to connect their equipment to generators to show the community the wonders of IT.

Their efforts have not gone unappreciated.

"One of the elders in a longhouse told me that he regrets not taking up IT and wants to encourage his children to know about it," Salmah said.