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Projects Funded

# 1303      1999 Croatian Association of University Women
CROATIA
Keywords:
 Skills Training
Description
 Funding was used to develop a computer classroom for a primary school in Ceminac. The classroom was used during the regular school hours for the computer education of students and after school four hours per week with classes in infonnatics basics - Windows, Word, Excel and the Internet - for women age 25-47 years. Courses began in November 2000.

The educator's comments stated that "The course was attended by 17 women from the Ceminac and Novi Ceminac villages. Most of them had no previous knowledge about computers and how to work on them. Women who attended our computer course were very satisfied with such type of education, since similar courses held by licensed informatics companies cost up to 1300 KN, which is $160 in US money."

The school Principal said, "I would like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to VGIF, our generous donator, on the sensitivity for our problem and the given support. The result of this nice cooperation which started after we returned to our homes. It wouldn't be possible for us to buy all the necessary equipment for such a computer classroom for a long period of time. Since computers are used by pupils during the regular school informatics education and women in courses, we shall try to continue with such course work in the future."

The members of the Croatian Association of University Women felt that the collaboratiofi that took place with this effort was so outstanding that they hope to continue with similar programs in other communities.
Update
 A computer workshop was established in the primary school of Ceminac. Ceminac is a municipality located in the eastern part of the Republic of Croatia-Baranja. The funds purchased eight used computers with additional spare parts. Funding also paid for an educator’s fee for the adult class as well as traveling expenses. Emphasis was placed on putting as much money as possible into the computers, with other activities carried out by volunteers. Project leader Mrs. Mara Kezele and project coordinator Dr. Vlasta Vince-Ribaric supervised all the activities at the workshop. The computers were installed and connected to a network. The schoolmaster indicates that classes are provided two hours twice a week. Pupils are divided into groups of 15 boys and girls, lead by the teacher who is an “expert in informatics.” The Ministry of Education and Sport finances part of the program. A group of 20 women ages 20-44 years was formed. The majority of the participants are housewives or work as shopkeepers or in building and economics businesses or in secondary education. All expressed awareness of the importance of such education today. One of the women said, “We don’t want to be less educated than our children”. The educational plan is for 4 hours per week during a 4-month period beginning in November: four hours in basic information, 10 hours in MS Windows, 21 hours in MS Word, and 8 hours in MS Excel for a total of 64 hours instruction. With the completion of the agricultural activities in the fields, all of the participants were glad to put their effort in additional education. This course is regarded as a good way to socialize, similar to sport activities. The project coordinator indicated that “it has been a great pleasure to feel the spirit of optimism, unity, and the desire for personal improvement, which could be seen in the reconstruction of the whole village, happening after expelled people returned.” There is still a lot to do in this community that was devastated by the war.
 
# my == multi-year project
(MDG==One of the 8 UN Millenium Development Goals) >> learn more
(FGM==Female Genital Mutilation)