Breaking down the digital divide
SOME of Stockport’s oldest residents have gone back to school in a bid to learn computer skills for the first time.
The South Manchester Muslim Community Association (SMMCA) has just launched free of charge computer classes to help close the ‘digital divide’ and teach people how to use mobile phones, tablets and computers.
The classes are run through The Myriad Foundation, a voluntary organisation which wants to make a positive impact on the community through Islamic teachings and ethos.
The course was officially opened by Councillor John Taylor at the centre, which is off Weybrook Road in Heaton Chapel.
Ghulam Rasool a founding member of the SMMCA said: “The centre’s purpose is to provide prayer facilities for Muslims as well as looking to fulfil the needs for the wider community.
“We run several activities from weekly social meet ups for the elderly, to running our very own food bank for local people in need.
“We see that many of the older residents in our community were almost afraid of using any technology devices, so we decided to bring in The Myriad Foundation, who run My Tech Buddy classes across greater Manchester, people who have the experience to teach the rest of us from the older generation important computer skills”.