FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, March 11, 2004

Technology Grant Equips Youth in the Dominican Republic

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 11, 2004 – Over the next few years, eighty schools in the Dominican Republic will have computer workstations equipped with a Spanish-language typing program that teaches students basic computer usage.

Peace Corps/Dominican Republic recently received a donation of educational CD-ROMs from the Friends of the Dominican Republic organization and TypingMaster Pro. Volunteers working in education projects will use this software donation to motivate and train more youth and teachers in various ways to connect technology and learning.

Through the Peace Corps\' Office of Private Sector Initiatives, the volunteers in the Dominican Republic indicated a need for Spanish-language typing software. Based on this need, the Friends of the Dominican Republic contacted Typing Master Finland and obtained permission to network the Spanish version of TypingMaster Pro.

“We are grateful to the Friends of the Dominican Republic and to TypingMaster Pro for this donation of software. This software will enhance the teaching and learning potential of teachers and students using fun and interactive means of applying technology to their work. We hope that this will benefit approximately 8,000 people in 80 communities over the coming four years,” stated Javier Garza, Peace Corps Country Director for the Dominican Republic.

The Friends of the Dominican Republic is an organization comprised mostly of returned Peace Corps volunteers and staff who are interested in issues pertaining to the Dominican Republic. They work with Peace Corps/Dominican Republic to help support Peace Corps programming and to assist currently serving volunteers.

Peace Corps volunteers have been serving in the Dominican Republic since 1963. Volunteers work in the areas of health, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, education, agriculture, environmental preservation, and community economic development. Nearly 3,500 Peace Corps volunteers have served in the Dominican Republic since 1963. There are currently 162 volunteers in the country.

If you are interested in learning more about the Peace Corps\' volunteer projects and how you may contribute, please contact Peace Corps\' Office of Private Sector Initiatives (OPSI) toll-free at 1.800.424.8580, ext. 2170, or via e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, you may also visit the OPSI website at www.peacecorps.gov/contribute.

Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.

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