[NYTr] Cuban Community Computer Clubs Celebrate 20th Anniversary

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Cuban Community Computer Clubs Celebrate 20th Anniversary

Havana, Aug 27 (acn) Cuba's Community-based Computer Clubs took to the 
streets throughout the country on Sunday to celebrate the 20th 
anniversary of the emerging of the popular program and the end of the 
summer season.

With a giant party dedicated to children, some 80 computers were 
installed in the Fraternity and El Curita parks, in the municipality of 
Centro Havana, where children and teenagers had free access to play, 
compete and learn, reported Granma newsapaper.

The festivities included sports and recreation games and artisitic 
shows for people of all ages, a variety of food stands and big screens 
showing Cuban music video clips.

Community-based computer clubs emerged as an initiative of President 
Fidel Castro. It is managed by the Young Communist League (UJC). Today 
there are 602 centers  nationwide, including four large computer 
facilities and five mobile labs to take computer science to the most 
remote communities.

In all, the clubs have 6,000 computers, printers and scanners available 
to all Cubans. Many are now open 24 hours, seven days a week to 
accommodate the great demand.

Over the last 20 years, 1,190,788 Cubans of all ages have taken 
computer classes at the Community Computer Clubs.