20 girls and boys have had the opportunity to learn basic computer skills thanks to ASHA Handicrafts. As part of an organised Fair Trade project called E-Academy, these children have the opportunity to attend daily IT classes and learn skills that will help them to gain future employment.

ASHA – the Hindi word for Hope – pays for the computers and the rent on the building which includes the main training and teaching room and living accommodation for the tutor and his young family. Each child is able to work towards sitting an exam and gain a recognised certificate for ability in Microsoft Word and Excel.

The classes are open to everyone and not just restricted to the children whose parents work for ASHA in their Agra based workshops. Many of the parents within the area work with stone either within Fair Trade organisations or on the open market.

13 year old Belall has attended the E-Academy for 6 months and travels by bicycle 20 miles a day, 6 days per week to learn the computer skills. “I want to work in business and computers,” he says. This project is just another way that Fair Trade is helping to empower individuals and raise their expectations in life.

Poverty is not only about shortage of money or lack of adequate skills. It is about rights, relationships and opportunities. It is possible to improve this by teaching skills that improve the way children and adults are treated and how they regard themselves. Projects such as this one will enable future generations to expect more and stand up to unfair trade and working conditions.

For further information or for further images please contact the Shared Earth team.

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