Presently we are expanding our Computer Literacy Seva to reach out to more kids and have more young adults from other schools and organizations, as Sevaks, in this project.

In 2002 the Pittsburgh Sai Center aka Unity in ACTION, approached the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center to teach computer literacy in their complex. We were then given the opportunity to teach Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint on Sundays as an extra curricular activity for their kids. Classes typically had 3 or 4 students with 2 or 3 teachers on hand. The program ran for 1 1/2 hours per class for a total of 3 classes. The program would alternate between all boys and all girls in the class.

Each child is then awarded a certificate of completion. This is significant because when a child had to appear in court, the certificate shows how his or her time was spent productively while in detention.

A special thank you goes to UBICS a local Information Technology company, who donated computers to this project.

As it turns out most of the children who come are already proficient with computers in general. Instead of laboring on what they already know we switch to more advanced use of software and more practical use of computers to prepare resumes, get ready for job interviews, make presentations and on a several occasions, how to prepare a budget for home or small business.

These small classes present an opportunity to introduce Sai Human Values, to plant positive thoughts, and to promote a good self image. All around the tiny classroom, were posters with sayings such as, "Happiness is the journey, not the destination" or "Success is not doing what you like but liking what you have to do". We would ask children to select any five of these sayings and copy them into Microsoft Word and then later on export or cut and paste them into PowerPoint Presentation. Then we would ask them to do a mock presentation of what these sayings mean to them. In this way they had to give thought to the phrases and picture themselves in light of these quotes.

Also in preparing resumes, we ask them to identify what they enjoy doing or wish they could do. Then we talk in terms of transferable skills so they can see how this might bring value to a prospective employer. In doing this they have to picture themselves in a positive light, thereby boosting their self-image.

Shuman has been happy with the progress we have made and asked if we would expand the program. They are building a classroom that would accommodate 15 students. Not only are we able to reach out to more souls, this also allows Shuman to leverage the computers for an automated remedial lesson/program in more traditional subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic.

So now we are expanding by building a computer network and looking for additional sources of more up-to-date computers and software. Furthermore we are reaching out to more young adults in various universities and colleges, to participate. This way we can offer a more consistent lesson plan through out the school year. In addition, volunteers will attend a human values workshop before teaching at the juvenile detention center. Thus, Sai Human Values are introduced to the university community as well.

Not only are we growing project in terms of children we serve, we are also trying to make this Seva sustainable beyond the handful of people who are involved in the project. It is indeed a partnership between our Sai Family and Shuman for the benefit of the children.