The CeC of M’lang in Cotabato committed to train at least 1,000 women for the Philippine Digital Literacy for Women Campaign. At present, M’lang CeC has trained 1,068 grassroots women and 27 trainers.

Dr. Mary Ann Cortado, the resourceful CeC manager, planned her training very well. Training 1,000 women is a lofty goal, but not impossible. She partnered with 7 public high schools to use as venues for training and trained 27 IT instructors from said schools to do the grassroots training. With strong political support from the mayor, all seven schools signed the memorandum of agreement. “The support of the mayor is very important because it can get things done,” she said. The trainors’ training was held last March 1-2, 2012, coordinated with Mr. Virgil Fuentes, Region 11 RITC.

The next step was to scout for participants from the grassroots. With M’lang’s well-organized council of women, it was easier to get willing participants. Sectors included female barangay officials, KALIPI members, disabled women, indigenous women, Muslim women, and female members of their cooperative. Starting March 2012, CeC M’lang jump started its simultaneous training in the different high school computer laboratories. At the latest count, M’lang CeC has conducted 36 batches of digital literacy training and has no plans of stopping.

Doc Ann has a new batch of training commencing on the 2ndweek of October. Having trained mostly women who are out of school or are no longer in school, the next target is to train in-school women and disadvantaged women. She wants to empower college students, battered women, and disabled women in M’lang. She hopes that they can reach the 2,000 mark by next year.

Source: http://www.philcecnet.ph