Over 100 students participate in FLOW Internet summer school

Over 100 students are now better equipped to use computers thanks to the 2018 FLOW Internet Summer School program.

The program ran for four weeks and saw tutors introducing children to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) including a soft introduction to software and application creation, Internet etiquette and how to use the Internet effectively, keyboard use, programming (with MIT software), Microsoft Word, Microsoft Paint and PowerPoint and game development.

FLOW’s country manager Wayne Hull, speaking at the closing ceremony of the program on Tuesday at Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, said this is the 14th year of the summer program.

He said when it was started in 2004, the company thought it was vital for them to educate young children and the elderly on the Internet as the platform was new.

Hull added that now, the summer program has evolved from being just about the Internet to about educating students about ICT and giving soft introductions to things like software and application creation and the best use of technology.

FLOW’s country manager Wayne Hull

“We will continue to invest in the development of children. This is a key motto of ours,” Hull told the gathering while adding that FLOW is involved in several educational initiatives.

He added that they are hoping to take the program to the Grenadines in 2019 so that students who are unable to travel to the mainland for the program may benefit.

Facilitators this year were Ronald Greaves, McReynold Thomas, Wade Archibald and Chrystal Hannaway (SVCC intern). The program was coordinated by FLOW employees Rita Henry, Samantha Campbell, Nikala Williams and Nolisha Miller.

Commenting, facilitator Hannaway said 2018 was a success despite a few challenges. She said the children learnt a lot and created a digital story using PowerPoint, built a game on Scratch (visual programming language) and were taught about computer safety, malware and social media among other things.

“I think overall that they really had a good time,” Hannaway said.

Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Nikala Williams said she is amazed at how the students have adapted to the program over the years. She said this year, the youngest student was five years old, “and never once was that child left behind.”

“Remember what you learn. In every aspect of the work world you will have to have basic IT knowledge so remember what you learnt,” Williams said.

Williams added that the program has impacted lives as she knows of persons who started at Internet Summer School and are now working in IT and making lots of money.

She also encouraged students to take what they learnt back to school and show their friends.

This year’s initiative was supported by Courts SVG Limited which among other things provided five computers.