Seventy-year-old Myrtle Goodman speaks on her experience on learning how to use the computer for the first time. She is a part of an initiative put on by Centreville’s Urban Renewal Department to assist those in the community on how to become computer literate. Photo: Davario Rahming
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
THIS week, for the first time in her life, 70-year-old Myrtle Goodman turned on a computer, browsed the internet, wrote a letter using Microsoft Word and sent an e-mail.
This was made possible, she said, as a result of the free computer classes offered at Centreville’s Urban Renewal Centre on Deveaux Street off East Street.
The class meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 1pm.
Ms Goodman now considers herself not only empowered, but free to “do her own business”. She said: “I’m getting there, because when I come here, I didn’t know nothin’ bout the computer, but I learning.
“I starting to know a whole lot of stuff. I does church work and I am a local evangelist so I would like to learn the computer so when I have to do my church work, I could do it myself and wouldn’t have to ask my children or my grandchildren. I would be able to it myself.”
Another student, Drucilla Anderson, said the classes have not only helped re-establish the interest she once had in computers, but also awakened a desire to become a computer technician.
“When I first came out of school I always was interested in computers, but sometimes your life takes a switch. So when I finish here, I really want to go back and learn how to fix them. I am really interested,” she said.
Earlier in the year, Gaynell Ellis, a volunteer at the centre and employee of Lignum Technology, said the company was awarded a grant from the Lyford Cay Foundation to purchase several virtual computer systems.
Ms Ellis said their aim was to equip residents in the area with job skills.
He said: “Too many of our young people are coming out of school illiterate or semi illiterate and we keep complaining that the foreigners are getting all of the jobs, but the thing is we have to make sure our people have adequate job skills so that when opportunities occur they can be the first ones out the gate.
“The truth of the matter is that we have to find some way to pull these people in and to motivate and encourage them.”
Volunteer instructor Antonio Lightbourn said the classes not only teach the basics of computer use but also stress the importance of drafting a correct resume when looking for a job.
Comments
dudu 11 years, 10 months ago
I think it is a great thing that people who know to work on a computer are helping elder or other people who do not know to use a computer.One day a friend of mine show me how to deal with http://smokingdesigners.com/design-prin…">printable website and since then things are a lot easier for me.
TheFixer 11 years, 10 months ago
It's good to see that even old people are learning to use the computer. My opinion is that they should also learn about http://www.dailytut.com/internet/top-fo…">The Top Four Internet Security Threats.
TheFixer 11 years, 10 months ago
It's very good to hear that old people are learning to use a computer. I believe the next step would be to teach them about http://evomag.co/2012/12/backing-up-you…">data cloud.
dudu 11 years, 10 months ago
This is a great post.I'm glad that in this world are people who help other peoples because kindness is a good think.By reading similar articles on the internet I learned about http://www.technoinsta.com/how-virtual-…">virtual desktops and their use
TheFixer 11 years, 10 months ago
It's awesome to see that old people also have interest for computers even if the young ones have an http://gadgetheat.com/2013/01/03/going-…">obvious advantage before them. they just have to keep up learning.
zinos85 11 years, 10 months ago
It must have been a great experience for her. We are experiencing a technological revolution and we need to incorporate it in our lives. But security threats are too causing a lot of damage, so we need to be aware of the security issues such as advanced targeted attacks and we also need information to http://www.navapavan.com/stages-advance…">stop advanced targeted attacks.
B_I_D___ 11 years, 10 months ago
...man...now she can go into that webshop finally and know better how to play her numbers!! WOOHOO!! Just kidding!!
leonardo85 11 years, 9 months ago
Computer literacy is must in this age when we are getting absolutely dependent on this technology. But we also need to have better security solutions that would help us in http://www.techwench.com/ensure-total-t…">intrusion detection and protect our data from all cyber hazards.
isabella 11 years, 1 month ago
It is really good to learn that she has the enthusiasm and interest for learning new technology. My grandmother is almost her age, she runs her small business. I help her manage business affairs, for IT solutions we rely on only http://www.nextrio.com/tucson-networkin…">Nextrio.
karrie 8 years, 5 months ago
It's an admirable initiative. These people need all the support to use a computer. Some of them might be really talented, some of them could even find some jobs, computer science offers so many opportunities. Soon some of them will know what a http://www.predictiveservice.com/#!cmms…">CMMS system stands for, this would be so much progress for them. Living without a computer is restricted living.
Sign in to comment
OpenID