Vahdat Computer Center

Joint project in Tajikistan has its first results

A Computer Training Center in Vahdat region, not far from Dushanbe, is one of the programs of the NGO “Tajikistan in Development” (TID), established in the fall of 2006 by CELA fellows in Tajikistan to address a lack of educational opportunities in rural parts of Tajikistan.

The Vahdat Computer Training Center (VCTC) was established in partnership with an Internet Café owned by Ilkhom Makhkambaev (CELA 5, TJ), who also serves on the board of directors of “Tajikistan in Development,” He brings a business perspective to the program by investing not less than 50 percent of the cost of the program.

The computer training center is aimed at developing basic knowledge and skills for Internet and computer literacy for the target population of schoolchildren between the ages 10 to18. Internet competency is a basic building block for rapidly improving education and showing the way for other educational programs, such as leadership and health programs for girls.

A usual training course on internet and computer literacy lasts for 10 weeks where students have four classes a week. Students are not charged to participate in the first year of the program. However, starting from the second year, training and internet access will be charged with a fair affordable price taking into account market conditions, and donors will cover only a small part of expenses such as cost of internet, rehabilitation of the premises and partial rent costs.

Board of Directors “Tajikistan in Development”:
Malika Abdulvasieva (CELA 5, TJ)
Sayora Grezova (CELA 3, TJ)
Tahmina Hakimova (CELA 5, TJ)
Ilkhom Makhkambaev (CELA 5, TJ)
Sitora Mirodzhova (CELA 4, TJ)
Suman Shanshoeva (CELA 3, TJ)
Aynabat Yaylymova (CELA 1, TM)