Free PC to tackle educational deficiencies
How do you help children from ethnic minorities tackle educational deficiencies? In the Zeehelden quarter of The Hague the Bewonerscollectief Prins Hendrikstraat en Omgeving is providing computers for ethnic minority families.
Description
The project, called “Komp-u-ter-hulp” (a play on words which
also means: “comes to help you”), is aimed mainly at poor lone
mothers with small children who themselves speak no Dutch, as a
result of which the children are at a disadvantage when they start
school.
Approach
The residents group works together with local schools. Where
teachers indicate that no Dutch is spoken in a child’s home the
project team offers a free computer. This is installed with all the
necessary facilities including Internet access. Also installed is a
special language teaching program with which children can start
learning Dutch at home. For older computer users the team also
install Abiword: an Arabic version of Word for writing letters and
emails.
To support the introduction of a PC to a family the project team aims to arrange coaches to give two hours’ computing tuition every week.
The project is aimed mainly at women and young girls since this is where the project group has identified the greatest potential benefits. Helping them make up the gap in their education also helps them gain confidence so that they can function better in Dutch society.
To support the introduction of a PC to a family the project team aims to arrange coaches to give two hours’ computing tuition every week.
The project is aimed mainly at women and young girls since this is where the project group has identified the greatest potential benefits. Helping them make up the gap in their education also helps them gain confidence so that they can function better in Dutch society.
Results
In 2003 the project placed 175 computers. A further 100
computers were placed in 2004. At the time of writing these 275
computers are being used by some 1300 people.
Resources used
In 2003 the project received a subsidy of EUR 13,000 from The
Hague’s city education department. A further EUR 7,000 was granted
by the Integration department in 2004.
Contact info
Komp-u-ter-hulp
Mertens
Mertens
Project start date
01/01/2003
Theme
Social inclusion and integration - Education
20 Mar 2006