Tech savvy on their own: A whole new world [wide web]

KARACHI:

Between the school bus of the Citizens Education Development Foundation and the wall of a neighbouring house, a computer has been set up for the children. It was donated by the Flame Foundation one month ago when they learnt of the Hole-In-The-Wall programme in India.

The students are not instructed on how to use the computer, and are instead left to figure it out on their own. The purpose is to see how these children, who have no prior knowledge of computers, manage to use it.

Children wait after their two-hour session in the bus has been completed to play with the computer. Each patiently waiting while other children use it, none fighting or causing a ruckus. Some students stay back to help their friends, passing on what they have managed to learn about the computer. “This generation has a very high brain capacity, they are able to learn how to use the computer through trial and error,” said Ayaz Hashambhoy, CEO of the foundation. “Education will liberate our nation,” he said, speaking of the importance of such organisations.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2014.