By Francine Black, Staff Reporter

Christopher Loperena, a member of Rising Roots International, a Chicago-based non-profit organisation, explains the basics of the computer, to two students of the Myrtle Ferguson Centre. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

TWENTY-SIX YOUNG mothers who currently attend the Myrtle Ferguson centre located at 9 Grayden Avenue, St. Andrew, are benefiting from an initiative of Rising Roots International to enhance their computer skills.

The programme which has been under way since January 5, has sparked much interest. It has prospects of enhancing the young mothers' future.

"They will be more marketable and flexible ..." Stephanie Ferguson Richards, director of the centre told The Gleaner.

"The purpose ... is to train these young women in computer skills in order to better their chances for employment and further education," said project director, Tarik Perkins.

ADVANCED COMPUTER SKILLS

The women are being taught basic and advanced computer skills including, Microsoft office suite, internet and e-mail, web design and photo editing. These skills the students have described as meaningful and helpful to their future careers.

"It's very interesting" and "it helps us with spelling" were some of the comments about the programme from participants.

Some of the young women are also expressing a career interest in the information technology field, as a result of the classes.

Rising Roots International, a non-profit organisation founded last year, has a mission of bringing about social change. In light of this, members of the Chicago-based group were quite willing to come to Jamaica to conduct the programme when the founder of the centre requested their help.

The programme is being supervised by the organisation comprised of six males and one female, until March. To ensure the programme's longevity, the centre's director is also being trained to continue training the students.

'GRASS ROOTS'

Prior to its work in Jamaica, Rising Roots International conducted a similar programme in Honduras for over 150 persons from various 'grass roots' organisations in that country.

Group members, while not possessing any advanced computer knowledge, use their tertiary education in various fields to enhance the teaching process. The curriculum is being developed on a weekly basis as the young women share their needs.

The centre, which has been around since 1994, currently offers training in bakery production, catering as well as courses in English Language and Mathematics.

The cost of the project is estimated at US$10,000 which Rising Roots received from various organisations locally and internationally, including the Jamaican Consulate in New York, which donated US$1,000 in addition to a computer.