Donation helps with computer literacy
Students receive refurbished laptops with enrolment in adult education program
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Native Women's Association of the NWT and Smart Communities Society have joined forces to give free refurbished computers to women enroled in the society's Adult Basic Education Program.
The program offers adult students who want to head back to school basic introductory courses in English and math. Learning basic computer skills is also a component of the curriculum.
"We didn't have anyone to teach the computer program this year, and we found out that Smart Communities worked in that field," said Natalie Makletzoff, an instructor with the Native Women's Association. "They offered to teach computer skills and give us computers if the girls progressed in a reasonable fashion as they were studying."
The Yellowknife-based non-profit organization Smart Communities Society delivers a federally funded program called Computers for Schools, which refurbishes computers so schools, libraries and non-profit organizations can reuse them in communities in the NWT.
According to its website, its mission is to broaden community access to knowledge resources using information and communication technologies in order to improve social, cultural, educational and economic opportunities throughout the North.
In December, during the Native Women's Society Christmas lunch, 11 students enroled in the program received the free computers with new operating systems and software.
Yellowknife resident Tracy Woods enroled in the program over the fall. She said she has learned all sorts of computer skills to help her future career.
"I learned how to do PowerPoint and also learned the basics of the computer. It's helping me a lot. It will help when I go into the workforce in data entry and stuff like that," she said. "The Native Women's Association is a very good program for older women or anyone who has been out of school."
As part of its programming, Computers for Schools hires digital study students to teach these basic skills. It was program instructor Fiona Alexis's second time teaching beginner computer skills.
"I really like teaching them because I am giving them knowledge about what I know and at the same time I am picking up new things," she said. "So I am actually relearning these things again."
