NEWS – OPEN DESTINATIONS LAUNCHES COMPUTER LITERACY INITIATIVE

Travel technology firm Open Destinations has launched a computer literacy programme for underprivileged children in the local Goan community. This initiative is the result of a collaboration with non-profit NGO Lifeline Foundation, which has been working in the field of health and education for the underprivileged for the last 18 years.

A total of 60 hours have been invested in the programme so far, with volunteers coming from Open Destinations’ local office in Panjim, Goa. The vision of the new programme is to help eradicate illiteracy from the state and work to create an educated and computer literate society.  Children between the ages of 8 – 15 years have been selected for the programme and have come from economically challenged sections of the society.

‘We hope to inspire technology career aspirations for the youth in our area,’ says Beheram Cooper, Open Destinations’ SVP of Operations. ‘Our staff have enjoyed hosting the children at our office and helping them to understand the impact of technology in the modern day.’

Lifeline Foundation identified 11 children from Chimbel and Porvorim to attend the first course and ensured that the entire program was communicated to the parents well in advance.  The course was comprised of Microsoft Office tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as Internet and basic HTML.  Each module lasted for two hours on alternate Saturdays, where the children interacted with Open Destinations staff acting as teachers, guides and mentors. Children were also provided with refreshments during each module and a completion certificate at the end of the course.

Open Destinations is looking forward to continuing this activity and are currently looking for NGO’s to offer support in this initiative.  All interested parties should contact [email protected].