Development projects -> Computer School

Computer School

CID-Ghana run a computer school with six computers. There are many small computer schools in the area but they are hard to access for many due to fees and location. The CID-Ghana school was developed to help youth, primarily from the villages, who have completed junior and senior secondary but who aren't able to pay the high prices of other computer schools.
The fees for computer lessons at these private schools are way to high for most of the pupils and students. This prevents them from coping up with the other students, they get behind and the possibility rises that they will not pass for their exams. Due to this it is very important that students living in these rural areas of Ghana also have a possibility to learn about the PC. The CID computer school is mainly meant to train students from nearby villages.

CID decided to open a school based on equality. Students who are living in town and have the financial means will pay a small amount required for the lessons. Students from the villages won't have to pay the whole amount. But they will have to assist the teachers instead. The school will not make any profit out of this, which means that the prices for computer education will be lower compared to the other computer schools in the area. There will be one teacher who will receive a salary from CID-Ghana.

Progress

Enrollment at the computer school at the end of the second quarter 2008 stands at average of 8 students per month. We have had 6 students graduating early in the month of June 2008 with certificates presented to them.
In the course of the quarter a CID Ghana volunteer, Eva Van Gaer, donated 300 euros for the purchase of a printer for the computer school.
The CID-Ghana IT coordinator, David Akrong, has shown remarkable milestones in the area of restructuring the center.

The development of the computer school has been made possible with the help of generous donations from the Van der Houwen family in Holland and the dedication of three CID-Ghana volunteers. Below follows their report.

The Marcel van der Houwen computer school... a project to cherish!

by Marieke van Zwienen, Corine't Hart en Marina van den Bos from the Netherlands
Corine en Marina worked in Ghana for CID from 15th January '06 - 30th March '06.
It was during the hot summer of 2005. We were packing our bags and organizing the last things for our African adventure, when we received an impressive letter from the Van der Houwen family. Their son, Marcel, had been a classmate of Marina and had died in 1998. His family had decided to grant a part of their son's savings to the three of us to spent in Africa. We were moved by this special gesture.
We found an appropriate destination for the money in the small town Gurugu. This is on the way from Tamale to the village where we stayed, Kukuo Yapalsi. CID-Ghana had started a computer school in 2005 along the Gurugu road. The school offered poor youngsters the opportunity to learn how to work with a computer. Marcel's savings made it possible to let the school grow, pay the rent and a teacher and buy air conditioning to keep the place cool.

To show their gratitude, CID-Ghana decide to call the school after it's first big helper from the Netherlands. That is why the school bares the name: 'Marcel van der Houwen / CID-Gh computer skills training centre'. Through the young boy Marcel it had become possible to give young children in Ghana a better future by teaching them computer skills. The Van der Houwen family was touched by hearing how we had spent the money. They now cooperate with the three of us and continue sponsoring this project. Last summer Peter even paid them a special visit when he was in the Netherlands!
There was an informal meeting on 21st April '07 at the Van der Houwen's place. It was decorated with African cloths there was African music and food and beverages were served. Friends and family were invited to be told more on how a part of Marcel's savings were spent in Africa. For this purpose we had made a special photo presentation on the computer to be shown to all those who were interested.
More than 80 people came! The memory of Marcel, our stories and photos elicited both tears and smiles. Some only listened, others asked questions. We gave information about CID-Ghana, shared our experiences and told those gathered how the school was founded and how we think the school can continue to offer young boys and girls the so necessary computer education.
For those interested in financial support, the family has opened a bank account to save more money for the computer school in order to continue sponsoring it. What is most needed now, are the power guards that can protect the computers when the light suddenly shuts down, a common problem in many African countries. Power guards make it possible to shut down computers appropriately, which avoid damaging the computers to much.
We, of course, hope that the family will raise enough money for the school because we are convinced that the school deserves a long, successful future. A future for the young children of the surroundings of Tamale and for Marcel, who lives on through this project.
A special thanks to CID-Ghana for their commitment and appreciation of our work. Greetings to all the students of the Marcel van der Houwen Computer school, may they become wise and skilled!
Would you like to read more about our Ghanaian experiences? Visit our website: www.mcminafrika.tk or mail to mcminafrika@hotmail.com.