ASIA/CAMBODIA - Courses on technology for children at risk

Sihanoukville (Agenzia Fides) - During the month of October, 20 young people at risk in the remote Cambodian province of Kep, Takeo and Kompot will start to attend training courses on Internet technologies and web design at the "Don Bosco Technical School and Web House. "According to information from Ans, they are the first regions to receive such training. According to UNICEF estimates, the poor in rural areas of Cambodia are 40% of the population, while in the capital, Phnom Penh are 10% and other 25% in urban areas. More than 74% of Cambodians work in agriculture. "Our goal, explains don Albeiro Rodas, vicar of the Salesian community in Sihanoukville, is to increase job opportunities for poor students in rural areas. We know that there are many Cambodian families who have no access to computers and that our percentage of Internet users is among the lowest in the world. But the Cambodians are very interested in technology. "Currently, Design and Salesian Web House is inserted in the Professional Center Don Bosco, which offers its services to students with very limited access to education, so many of them, with no real skills, emigrate to seek work in Phnom Penh. Web House, however, offers innovative services, with education that touches various areas such as e-commerce, websites, custom blogs. The contents can be written in English, German, French, Khmer, Spanish, Dutch and Thai. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 07/10/2011)