IT prospects for working children

Working children learn IT skills

When Sanu, a 12-year-old boy from Nepal, first started learning about computers he was too afraid to even switch it on.

These days, that fear is over. Sanu is one of the many children who are receiving free computer education. Supported by Plan through CONCERN, the training provides children with the opportunity to learn skills their families would not normally be able to afford, using equipment that is not available at schools.

Sanu’s family had migrated to Kathmandu from the village of Ramechhap when he was one year old, his father died in his early childhood and he has been compelled to work and live in a hotel to support his family.

As a working child, Sanu has been given valuable training to further his prospects, besides gaining basic computer knowledge he has also learned how to use Paint Brush, MS Excel, MS Word and PowerPoint, as well as hotmail to send e-mails and greetings through the Internet.

Sanu has also become involved in a Child Club with other working children from the IT centre, participating in various activities based on child rights. Since starting the training, Sanu has gained the confidence to decide that he has no desire to continue working in the hotel for his whole life, he says; “after finishing my education, I would like to be a famous artist in Nepal.”