Dacorum Borough Council and Hemel Hempstead Library have come together to provide opportunities for minority ethnic learners in Dacorum to train on computers using their mother-tongue, thereby encouraging them to access further learning and training.
The launch of a bi-lingual IT training project will take place on 26th May, as part of national Adult Learners Week.
"I am really pleased that this project will not only benefit residents of Dacorum, but will spearhead the introduction of multi-lingual software in libraries across the county. The project couldn’t have got off the ground without the positive support and involvement from the local minority communities" Santoshni Perera, the Council's community development project officer for ethnic minorities, has said.
Training has been provided to a core group of bi-lingual IT tutors to deliver absolute beginner computer training giving instructions in mother-tongue, whilst using mother-tongue software.
According to the organisers, the tutors are now ready to deliver computer training to learners for whom English is their second language using the computers at Hemel Hempstead Library and at community venues using laptops.
Languages offered include Urdu, Gujarati, Chinese and Farsi. The organisers have said they would also like to hear from any Arabic speakers who would like to be trained as tutors.
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