Confidence & Computer Exams

Sometimes it's the simple things. Consider last week's Computer Training exam at Cocoki and Covanya:

1. Plug in the computer and switch it on.

2. Open Microsoft Word.

3. Write the following sentence: "Students are going to school"

4. Put the above sentence in:
a) Font size: 26
b) Bold
c) Italic
d) Underline
e) Font color: yellow
5. Save your work in "My Documents" and call it your name.

For avid computer users, these are simple tasks. But to a woman who has heard about computers, but only recently seen and touched one in person, these are empowering steps to independence and self-confidence.

The women particularly love their newfound ability to save documents. With a more reliable way to record their thoughts (in addition to the new literacy training programs) a number of the women have apparently taken to writing short stories. Hopefully we'll get one up on Social Enterprising soon!

- Ben

Photo is Mediatrice Mukarugamba, 43, of Covanya in Nyamata, Rwanda.