November 25, 2009, Tashkent. From November 24 to December 17 the training on computer basics is delivered for the children of Tashkent orphanage #21. The training was initiated by the project “Assisting the government of Uzbekistan in the formulation and implementation of ICT for development policy” (ICTP) of UN Development Programme. The aim of the training is to improve knowledge of the rising generation in ICT field.

The training is delivered by IT Volunteers of ICTP project according to their own curriculum, based on which the orphanage’s inmates will learn how to work in MS Windows, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and how to use the Internet as a resource.

According to Abdumalik Ruzikulov, the head of the orphanage, this training is an important step in the formation of ICT skills among children and this will, undoubtedly, bring tangible results in future.  12 volunteer inmates of the orphanage in the age of 8-14 are involved in the training. The classes are held three times a week, an hour and a half each, in the new computer room of the orphanage equipped with all necessary technical devices.

Upon the completion of the first training the organizers are planning to pick a new group of 12 children to take part in a similar training.

It has been noted by the organizers of IT training that initiatives like this are a kind of valuable contribution to education and future of the children, and for this reason it is desirable to continue the series of computer literacy trainings in orphanages.