– 30 recipients take home laptops
GOVERNMENT’S One Laptop Per Family Programme’s pilot project in Lodge, Georgetown, has been a huge success, a showcase of what government and community partnership can bring about. Last evening, 30 young leaders selected from hundreds who came from immediate and surrounding areas and who engaged in learning and helped 90 others to also enrich their knowledge, thereby reducing the gap between those with and without knowledge, took home their laptops.
This move will now allow family members and villagers to begin learning Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills. This project goes back to January when the beneficiaries began three months of intensive training in basic and advanced levels computer training.
The pilot engagement process commenced months ago and was in consultation with parents and the OLPF Secretariat. 
The initiative was described by several of the beneficiaries and their parents as a ‘dream come true’.
Chief Executive Officer, Volunteer Youth Corps Inc., Goldie Scott, who has been involved in ensuring that the outcomes of the OLPF programme have been achieved, has been working closely with the Secretariat staff.
Scott, speaking at the Lodge Community Development Centre, Durban Backlands, lauded the government for the initiative, and noted that the programme, which has seen intensive consultation, has borne fruit, since many of the students have become computer literate.
She added that prior to the training, most of the students had little or no ICT knowledge, but since being exposed to the training exercise, the majority of them boast a pass rate which ranges from 78 to 98 percent.
Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, who has oversight for the programme, while addressing the eager gathering, said that the aim of the administration is to ensure that Guyanese have ICT skills at hand, since the world is advancing technologically.
“Five years ago President Jagdeo had this programme in hand, but due to financing, it had not materialised. But I am happy to say that today, we can offer this programme to the people of Guyana. It is a fulfillment of a promise made,” he said.
He added that the programme, which will help build social infrastructure for Guyanese, first targets the vulnerable sections in society, to ensure that Guyana’s educational capacity is on par with the developed world.
The programme which has received overwhelming response from the public, will see 90,000 laptops being delivered to priority groups across the country; and according to Minister Nadir, 27,000 will be distributed under the transitional process in October.
However, he cautioned that the OLPF ensures that the laptops’ serial numbers are recorded and attached to each recipient’s equipment to ensure that they are not sold or damaged, and that they are being used for the required purpose.
Senior Project Manager, OLPF, Sesh Sukhdeo, spoke about the important ingredients of a successful community partnership that is, sharing, leadership, engagement, trust, relevance, and infrastructure.
He said that since the launch of the brain-child project of the president, overwhelming response has been received.
Among the beneficiaries are;- Keisha Ajudia and Haykim Baswick- Tucville Secondary; Oliver Leonard and Michael Singh- South Ruimveldt; Naiomi Hanl- Guyana Education Trust College; David France- Queenstown Secondary; and DeJa Barrow- Lodge Secondary.  (GINA)