The progress of ICT training at Ngarua Maarifa Centre

By Bob Aston

Ng’arua Maarifa Centre continues to provide free ICT Training to the people of Laikipia County. The Maarifa Centre provides free ICT Training in Introduction to Computers and Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel,Ms PowerPoint and Internet & E-mail.

Computer Trainees during a Training session

During the Period of February - April the Maarifa Centre managed to train 81 students. The trainees came from various professions including farmers, business men / businesswomen, government workers and form four leavers. Majority of the Trainees were Form Four Leavers who were 49 (60 % of the Trainees) in total.

The youngest trainee was 17 years old Female called Rahab Kanyingi while the oldest was a Farmer called Francis Wahome aged 61 Years old. There was high interest among the Youths particularly those who fall in the age bracket of between 19-25 years. This group consisted of more than 70% of the total Trainees.

The Training started from 8:00 am -10:00 am, 11:00 am -1:00 pm, 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm and 4:00 pm-6:00 Pm. It was not possible for the Trainees to attend Training 5 times a week as most of them are Farmers, the Maarifa Centre thus devised away in which the Trainees attended Training 3 times a week. 

The Trainees were divided into 7 different Groups and each group had a particular day and time in which they attended Training. Group 1, 2, 3 and 4 attended Training on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday while Group 5, 6 and 7 attended Training on Thursday and Friday. Saturday was normally reserved for Practice and consulting and the Maarifa Centre also encouraged the Trainees to Practice their typing skills on Saturdays. Each Computer has Software called Typing Master Pro. Typing Master Pro has helped most of the Trainees to improve their typing skills.

Computer Trainees during a Training Session

The trainees came as far as 18 Kilometers. Most of the Trainees were located around Sipili Location.The Maarifa Centre also had Trainees who were residing in areas such as Minjore (18 kms from the Maarifa), Mithuri (14 kms from the Maarifa) ,Milango (12 kms from the Maarifa) ,Ndemu Ndune (10 kms from the Maarifa), Machunguru ( 10 kms from the Maarifa) ,Bondeni (8 kms from the Maarifa), Kinamba ( 8 kms from the Maarifa),Kahuruko ( 6 kms from the Maarifa) ,Mlima Meza (6 kms from the Maarifa) ,Ndurumo (5 kms from the Maarifa),Naiborom ( 4 kms from the Maarifa) ,Kio( 4 kms from the Maarifa) and Ndaragwiti (2 kms from  the Maarifa).