DHAKA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- For many in the affluent world, using a computer is just an ordinary thing.
But to a large section of Bangladesh's urban population, the use of computers is still a big thing. In fact, among the urban poor in depressed areas in Dhaka, the Internet is still out of their reach.
But little by little, things are changing for many of the underprivileged students here since there is now an institute that is dedicated to provide them with the means to learn how to use the computers.
The institute, aptly called Computers Are Free for Everyone ( CAFFE), is now providing free computer education to people from the less affluent section of this capital city.
"We started CAFFE with the mission of providing the very best opportunities to underprivileged students in Bangladesh," Luke Doyle, founder and chairman of the institute, told Xinhua recently.
Doyle established the institute in 2011 with financial support from some Bangladeshis living in China. The institute, which started with only 12 students, is now offering free computer education to some 200 students.
"Original funding actually came from China from a group of Bangladeshi parents in Shanghai. They helped us get started. Without them it would be very difficult for us to put up the school," Doyle said.
According to Doyle, the institute is introducing computer to many students who had never touched the equipment in their lives much less have access to the new technology.
Jahangir Alam, who now teaches computer technology as a part- time CAFFE teacher, was the first graduate of the institute.
"I've learnt so many things in the institute. I learnt Microsoft Word, Excel, Power point, Adobe Photoshop and various programming techniques here," Alam said.
Alam said he owe a lot to CAFFE for the opportunity to learn computer technology.
Alam, who is studying in level eight in a formal school after the end of his working hours at the institute, plans to take computer teaching as a profession in future in order to help children from poor families get computer literacy.
"I plan to take up a graduate program in computer science," Alam said, now more than ever confident of his future.
CAFFE teachers say students are serious in learning computer which they consider as their only chance to turn their dreams of a better life into reality.
Sohel Rana, the first CAFFE teacher, said most of the CAFFE students, who came from poor families, don't get support at all from their families for education. "Rather, they work to support their families," Rana said.
Rana said students at CAFFE are very talented and very serious in their studies.
CAFFE, which is planning to set up branches in the poor communities across Bangladesh, hopes to open up the world of opportunities for the poor.
"Our ultimate dream is probably still a long way. But our long- term objective is to be a fully digital school," Doyle said.
He said CAFFE will continue its efforts to march forward with its guiding principle that everybody, whether they are rich of poor, should have access to computer technology.
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