The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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August 21, 2008

Workshop for area students builds confidence and computers

By Ashley Morici

The Human Rights Development Foundation and Mission West Virginia is sponsoring a “Build It, Keep It, Share It” Workshop this week for area children at the WorkForce West Virginia building in Beckley.

Ten children from low-income families were picked through a screening process completed by Mission West Virginia after submitting a questionnaire, an application and an essay.

The materials were given to area youth programs and local schools to be distributed to children who qualified. The material was then graded by Mission West Virginia members based on the children’s submissions and economic needs.

Mission West Virginia, established by first lady Gayle Manchin, holds 11 workshops annually in counties ranging from Pocahontas to Mercer, which are part of Region 1 in West Virginia.

The children spend five days learning how to program and put together new Dell computers and learning how to use software for their new computers. By the end of the week the children also become Microsoft DL-certified.

All the equipment, software and computers are free to the participants.

Tim Elliott, director of the workshops, says these events are invaluable to the children because. “The workshops not only give the children a brand new computer and tools to further their education, but the workshops also help the children involved feel like they can really accomplish something worthwhile and their confidence level goes up as well.”

The software, computers and parts are paid for by Microsoft, which provides $400 worth of software per student, and Tiger Direct, which gives Mission West Virginia discounted new parts for the computers.

The rest of the funding needed comes from donations made by local organizations and foundations.

Sponsors involved in the event include the Beckley Area Foundation, Beckley Rotary Club, Chick-fil-A, Papa John’s Pizza, Quiznos, Little Caesar’s and Shoney’s.

— E-mail: amorici@register-herald.com

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