(St. Anthony’s College, Shillong) – Under a corrugated tin roof, in a dust-laden classroom where sunlight filtered through narrow windows, rows of tiny desks were transformed into a makeshift high-tech computer lab. For a week, the soft hum of computers replaced the usual quiet of Fatima UP School in Ri-Bhoi district’s Umkon, offering a glimpse of a digital world that remains distant for many rural children in Meghalaya.
Despite the rapid spread of smartphones and digital services across India, access to computers, reliable internet, and structured digital literacy continues to be uneven. National surveys have consistently shown that in rural India, fewer than one in three households have access to the internet, and an even smaller proportion own or can regularly use a computer
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In states with difficult terrain and dispersed rural populations, such as Meghalaya, this digital divide is felt even more sharply, especially in government and aided schools where resources are limited. It was against this backdrop that the Cyber Club students of the Department of Computer Science, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, carried out their annual outreach programme, Bridging the Digital Divide, at Fatima UP School from December 4 to 9. The initiative, the third at Umkon, reflects a sustained commitment rather than a one-time intervention—an approach rooted in the Don Bosco tradition of accompaniment, service, and empowerment through education.
Forty-nine students from Classes 6, 7, and 8 took part in the week-long computer awareness programme. For many of them, this was their first opportunity to interact meaningfully with a computer. Guided patiently by a team of 12 final-year BSc Computer Science students—nine boys and three girls—the children learned basic computer operations through hands-on practice.
The emphasis was not merely on technology, but on confidence: how to use a keyboard and mouse, understand simple software applications, and overcome the hesitation that often accompanies first exposure to digital tools. The outreach extended beyond computer literacy. St. Anthony’s College volunteers also offered free tuition in mathematics and science for each class, reinforcing classroom learning and addressing academic gaps. This blending of digital skills with core subjects reflected the belief that quality education must be comprehensive, practical, and accessible to all, especially those on the margins.
The programme also carried a strong social outreach dimension. Usable clothes collected from well-wishers were distributed to the children and families of the village, adding a tangible expression of care and solidarity. These small yet meaningful gestures echoed Don Bosco’s call to serve one another with compassion, particularly the young and the vulnerable.
The week concluded on a note of celebration and hope. Certificates of course completion were awarded to the school students, acknowledging their effort and newly acquired skills, while the Cyber Club volunteers received certificates in recognition of their service and teaching. In a significant step towards sustainability, the Cyber Club donated a working computer to Fatima UP School, ensuring that learning would continue even after the team’s departure.
Source: The Shillong Times