By Keilah Creedon | Program Coordinator
You are receiving this report because you have donated to MindLeaps' campaign on GlobalGiving titled "Digital Literacy: IT for Street Children."
MindLeaps has just signed a partnership with ICDL, short for International Computer Driving License - an organization which provides digital literacy curriculum, testing, and certificates. ICDL is widely recognized and used across Africa. This is a major development for MindLeaps’ IT program as it will add international accreditation to the digital literacy classes we currently offer.
What does this partnership mean for MindLeaps students?
Partnering with ICDL will help us more effectively train our students in IT. Two of our top IT teachers have just completed ICDL’s “train the trainer” workshops in Rwanda, which qualifies them to teach the ICDL curriculum to our most advanced students. The curriculum ranges in difficulty from basic computer skills (i.e. turning the machine on) to word processing and database use. As our advanced students work through this curriculum, they will have the opportunity to take ICDL exams and then receive certificates of completion. This is crucial, given that most of our students have no other certificates of formal education, which is a major barrier in the Rwandan working world.
The Impact on Eric's Life
Like many of the youth at MindLeaps, Eric is fascinated by technology and is fond of learning new programs in IT class and taking old computers apart after class to figure out how exactly they work. He is interested in media and programming and dreams of working in the IT field. This is coming from a Rwandan adolescent who never finished primary school and has resorted to life on the streets because of poverty at home.
At age 17, boarding school is not the best option for him as he would have to go back to school for nearly 10 years before he is able to get a high school certificate. However, ICDL certification is an alternative pathway into his dream career. If he successfully completes the ICDL courses and exams, then he will likely be able to get an internship through a Rwandan Government work program. This internship would be a gateway to future employment, meaning that he could start his career in the IT industry next year despite being a former street child with little formal education.
The Bigger Picture
There are many students like Eric who are bright and gifted with technology, but have never had the chance to finish school. Partnering with ICDL means that we can give these students tangible vocational training experience, opening up the doors for future employment. Given Rwanda’s push for development through the ICT sector, this is a promising pathway towards a better future.
Eric and our other advanced students are only making leaps forward with the ICDL partnership thanks to your support. Thank you for making this possible.
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