Computer Literacy Foundation

Computer Literacy Foundation was established in May, 2012. Among the founders are various government institutions, business companies, universities and non-government organizations.  The idea of the foundation is very much like the establishment of “Foundation for Literacy Promotion” in Georgia in 19th century. The founders believe that increase of computer literacy throughout the country is as important as literacy proliferation was at the end of the 19^th century.

Global objective of the foundations is to ensure social and economic welfare via increased access to high tech and e-services.

Foundation manages various projects with general goal to improve social and economic conditions of rural population of Georgia via integrated technologies and relevant skills into their everyday life.

The first major project of the Computer Literacy Foundation is Knowledge Centers in 300 Georgian Villages. The project aimed to establish centers equipped by basic technological infrastructure and lead by trained persons in order to ensure educational and cultural environment for the rural population of Georgia. For that purpose 300 major villages were selected, 600 people have been recruited and trained, basic technological equipment was purchased and distributed through the centers.

Computer center has several main functions:

1.              Educational function: center employees will teach local population how to use computer technology to search and spread the desired information for purposes of educational and specific economic benefits. The center will offer video lessons, educational video material and interesting audio literature to the population; will teach how to register relevant sites, create simple web pages, basic programming etc; will provide information on Internet search engines, media and e-commerce, etc;

2.              Support of economic and social activities: computer center will play an important role in developing e-commerce. Namely, employees of the center will assist local population in purchasing and selling relevant goods via Internet, search for a business partner, spread the desired information using social networks, etc;

3.              Access to services: through the computer center the population will be able to receive a number of services locally. Namely, employees of the center will offer the population any online service of public as well as private organizations; render qualified consultation on the desired services. For instance, what documents are required, where these documents can be obtained, what time-period and expenses will be accrued, etc; The computer center will also provide Xerox, printer, scanner, Skype, and other services. 

4.              Communication with the population: via the computer center private and public organizations will be able to spread relevant information to the rural population. This, way local residents will obtain up to date information on different issues. Moreover, employees of the center will assist organizations in conducting research and obtaining various statistics.

At the moment Foundation operates over 260 centers, which provide various eservices in the major Georgian villages, as well as educational face to face trainings, distance courses and so on.

In cooperation with various business, educational and non-profit organizations Foundation designed projects aiming to develop distance learning courses and e-commerce facilities.

Example of a centre:

Salkhino Centre

• Name of the centre: Salkhino (Martvili, Samegrelo)
• Population: about 3800 people
• The centre serves following villages: Didi Chkoni, Inchkhuri, Balda
• Opening Date: September, 2012
• Working Hours: 09:30-17:00, Monday-Friday
• Staff: Manana Basilaia, Paata Lashkhia
• Technical Equipment: Internet, 3 Computers, Copier, Printer, Headphones Webcam, Sound amplifier

Basic services and training courses:

MS Office Courses

Banking Services

Internet Services

Design services – Making greeting cards, certificates

Computer Services - copying, printing, typing

Bookcity –Bookshop

Story of Success

One of the most successful courses in the Centre is MS teaching course. About 60 students have already been trained in this course and it is interesting to highlight that among them is 65-year-old woman, village doctor. Successful students have received certificates.

In September, 2013 the center has opened bookstore. During this period, the center has sold about 230 different types of book and stationery material.

Basic statistical data:

Computer training course: 60 students

The number of books sold per month: 19-25 Book

The average number of users per day: 14-22 people