Improving computer literacy among children

Charity sees technology education particularly important to young Guyanese

Save Abee (Us), is a non-profit organisation registered in the U.S. that is currently in the process of obtaining non-profit status in Guyana and Canada.

The foundation is based on the principle of giving the children of Guyana the skills required to operate a computer

efficiently. It primarily focuses its efforts in the rural regions of Guyana, where transportation and computers are lacking.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, U.S.-based Guyanese Sham Tilak, said he started the charitable organisation Save Abee (Us) on October 30, 2009.

The dream had started over a year earlier when Tilak had returned to Guyana and had seen the lack of computer technology for children. He dreamt of providing this for the children in Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice, and through Save Abee (Us) that dream is now a reality.

The goal of the foundation was to begin in Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice, and subsequently open centres across Guyana. Tilak noted that since the children are in school during the day, these centres operate in the evenings and on weekends.

The first centre was ultimately opened in Cotton Tree Village, and the group is currently working on another in Port Mourant and Cane Grove. There was a spectacular opening ceremony for the first centre, with performances by Guyanese artistes Terry Gajraj and Anant Hansraj, who are also active members of the charity.

When asked why he used the Creole word “abee”, Tilak explained: “Abee was used because I wanted the people in the Guyana to feel that this organisation is all about the people of Guyana. For all the Guyanese, they know that ‘abee’ means us. The six children in our logo represent the six nations of Guyana. We should all be proud of where we are from, so I thought it was very appropriate to use a word from the country of my birth.”

Tilak said too that the future projects of the organisation include granting scholarships to the University of Guyana, and it would like to open more centres across Guyana to provide skills in computer technology. He stated that his group is currently planning a show in Guyana to showcase the talents of the country. In the U.S. and Canada, about four entertainment shows are held to create awareness and raise funds for the centre.

“A child today, is the future tomorrow. We need to invest in the children today to preserve our future”.

For more information on the organisation, visit Save Abee on Facebook. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)