Switched On India
The India computer labs project has recently taken off! Due to personal backing from the Indian Prime Minister, the Indian Government and corporations are funding the establishment of six computer labs in semi-rural West Bengal. The Newboulds intend to move to India to establish these labs and a team to roll out yet more labs amongst the very needy in India. Read more here.
Backtrack: Story of Computer Lab in Delhi Slum
Switched On's second project was to equip a classroom and start a course to teach youths in a poor New Delhi suburb how to use computers.
One teacher's desk and 15 student desks were supplied by Switched On, which have been filled with the necessary computer equipment. The system is mostly configured, and will be completed from the UK over the next few months. We are now working with a teacher Switched On appointed in New Delhi to develop a computer course covering Office and Internet applications. Switched On will provide accreditation, giving a credible certificate for successful students to help them obtain better jobs.
Further funding will be needed for this project to add an air conditioning system, projector and to pay the first months of the teacher's salary. We aspire to make the project self-sustaining in the long-run, with a small course fee covering the teacher's salary and maintenance.
Some youth have now acquired better paid work using computers as a direct result of attending Switched On's training course. Three hundred pupils in the school are also being tutored for the first time in how to use computers.