Dwayne Brown (centre), volunteer teacher at the Rowlandsfield information technology and homework centre in St Thomas, shows Kamoy Brown (seated) how to use the computer. Looking on is Howard McLaughlin, coordinator of the centre and president of the Rowlandsfield Community Development Committee. - Photo by JIS

St Thomas resident Kamoy Brown, 23, is unemployed, but is optimistic that he will get a job soon.

With his newly acquired computer skills, gained from attending classes at the information technology (IT) and homework facility at the Rowlandsfield Community Centre in the parish, Kamoy is confident that his prospects for employment have greatly improved.

The former student of Happy Grove High School in Portland tells JIS News that, in addition to basic computer skills, he is now able to prepare and print his résumé at the facility.

He is grateful and proud that such a project has come to the rural community, which is located some 30 miles from Morant Bay.

Persons benefiting

"Truly, I feel really good and proud of the community, because we have been waiting for something like this for a long time," he said with a broad smile. "Students can now do their SBAs (Student Based Assessments) and stuff like that, and those who are not computer literate can come and learn something. So, I'm really delighted about this."

His wish is to see the centre expanded so that more persons can benefit. The centre, which was constructed at a cost of some $1.3 million, began operating last May.

When JIS News visited the facility recently, Kamoy was among a group of young persons, mainly students, using the five computers in the homework centre.

They were being taught computer skills by Dwayne Brown, a volunteer teacher. The other tutors are Kevin Brown and Kevin Smith, a peace corps worker from Iowa in the United States.

Computer classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the facility is open from 9 a.m. to the public on the other days, to facilitate the printing of documents and other computer-related activities.

There is a small fee for the use of the facility, which Kamoy thinks is quite affordable.

"Some places, it is $60 an hour, so it's very reasonable" he says.

Various donors

Howard McLaughin, coordinator of the project, said the idea to offer computer training and services came about after a survey revealed that more than 82 people were interested in developing skills in computer technology.

Consequently, a project proposal was formulated with the assistance of the Social Development Commission, and sent to several funding agencies, including the European Union, which provided 75 per cent of the project cost.

The remainder was contributed by community members and the Member of Parliament for the area, Dr Fenton Ferguson, who donated $259,000 towards the purchase of computer equipment, including a printer.

McLaughin said the centre has been well received by community members. The computer training, he says, is offering a ray of hope to residents, many of whom have been displaced from their jobs, as a result of the closure of the Eastern Banana Estates in the parish.

He said the residents are taking advantage of the opportunity to learn a skill, so as to earn a livelihood. So far, 20 people have completed a 10-week training course in basic computer skills and another batch of 20 started similar training in early March.

Other needs

The project coordinator, however, pointed to the need for additional computers so that more persons can access training.

"Currently, the demand for the five computers is great. When we have about 20 persons, we have to have five persons to a computer," he lamented. "We have got some quotations for the cost of the units and how many it would take to cool the centre. We are currently putting the proposal together to find funding."

Other needs include a fax machine, and more tables and chairs. In the meantime, he said there are plans to offer Internet service and advanced IT training at a cost, to earn income for the centre.

"We are in dialogue with HEART Trust/NTA and they are looking at coming out here to enhance the training offered," he disclosed.