WITH THE installation of a computer with Braille keyboard, visually impaired persons can now use the free cyber café at the Youth Information Centre at the Edgewater community centre in Portmore.
The centre has been presented with five new computers, including one with Braille keyboard, by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, which has responsibility for the National Centre for Youth Development (NCYD).
Youth Empowerment Officer with the NCYD, Halcyon Henry, said that an average of 30 persons from Portmore, Spanish Town and the Edgewater community use the cyber café daily.
She pointed out that about 3,685 persons have used the facility since it was opened in July last year. Persons in the age group 15 to 24 use the café to do research on the Internet for assignments, type reports, photocopy notes and to check and send e-mails, free of cost.
Miss Henry explained that a discussion programme called, 'Youth Empowerment Session', which focused on topics such as HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), job skills, crime and violence is also held at the centre during the week and on Saturday's. "Anything that is topical and issues which they want to talk about are done," she added.
A youth empowerment session is planned for Saturday, April 17, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and will deal with the topic, 'Job Readiness Skills'. The presenter is Career Guidance and Counselling Intern, Vocational Training and Develop-ment Institute (VTDI), Bronhil Thompson. Topics to be discussed include, how to construct a cover letter, how to write a résumé and how to dress for an interview.
Miss Henry said there was a need for some persons coming to the centre to be taught basic computer skills, and recommendations would be made to the NYCD for this to be done.
"We don't want only those who have had access to machines to be able to use the centre. It's here for everybody. It's free. And we would like everyone to utilise the services offered here," she said.
Mrs. Henry said that because of the limited number of computers available, persons are usually monitored and priority given to persons doing research. "Everybody co-operates and it has been working so far," she added.
