morning session

On 17th October 200, to mark the International Day of Eradication of Poverty, NGO SPES organised an OPEN DAY with demonstration on CAL – Computer Assisted Learning and ICT – Information and Communication Technologies, to promote creativity and entrepreneurship.

In the morning a special Cybercafé for “hands-on” computer experience was reserved for children with motor handicaps. The computer tables SPES designed to accommodate wheelchairs were a great success. The accompanying teachers and parents also enjoyed themselves using special user-friendly wireless keyboards and mice.

VIPs and the children had friendly chats at tea-time.

afternoon session

As SPES was designated a social educational partner by the WorldSpace Foundation, a Round Table was organised with radio satellite broadcasts diffused by the ALC (Africa Learning Channel) and the French (Canal EF – Educatif Francophone). Some of these stimulating audio programmes are story-like, others are on health, education, small scale enterprise and most are suitable for Mauritius.

The participants listened attentively to the satellite radio broadcast of Kofi Annan’s, UN Secretary General, New Millennium appeal to NGOs, well-versed in ICT, to spread “Education for All to eradicate Poverty for a Better World”.

This was followed by demonstrations of SPES computer teaching material productions that provide user-friendly learning (informal schooling) for kids with literacy problems.

Open discussions on the audio and multimedia presentations took place, in groups, and the WordSpace survey questionnaire was filled in. The moderators were two experienced and well known national broadcasters.

The 30 participants were mainly social workers, teachers, musicians and IT people. They all found the open discussion a very enriching learning/sharing session and seemed determined to keep up this type of network.

SPES extended sincere thanks to all and specially to the two lively moderators.