Al-Shmoh Center is an information hub. We enable residents to explore the world from the village whenever they want by:Creating Al-Shmoh Net-Lab, which provides computers, software, training and Internet access to this rural area.
In the center we have 6 Computers, in future we hope that we well have more .
The Need's
Free access to ideas, resources and information is imperative for the education, employment, enjoyment and self-governance of a community. It is well established in the global community that Internet and computers provide valuable tools for learning and development and that digital technology can improve lives and communities. Computers and Internet can connect an isolated community to the greater world by facilitating
1) the exchange of ideas
2) the learning of views and perspectives from around the world
3) and increased knowledge of current events.Free access to materials and information can serve as an equalizer of all peoples.
A majority of Al-Shmoh residents have little or no access to information outside of local newspapers and television programming. While the 7 local schools do have libraries books only), they are open only to their students during school hours (8 am TO 1:30 pm) leaving non-students with virtually no access to independent information. Before the center's establishment of the area's first (and still only) internet connection, residents were obliged to travel to Bethlehem or Hebron to access the internet which can be timely, costly and sometimes impossible. The center also offers most residents their only access to digital technology, since less than 1% of area homes have computers and no public access is available elsewhere.
A well equipped Net-Lab can also serve as an essential tool to university students. Not only will university students be able to complete much of their work and research from home saving valuable time and money, but it will facilitate continued learning in times of closure and encourage more people to study. During times of closure, Professors often post their lectures on-line, and give and receive assignments in order to complete studies within the academic year. Without computers or Internet, many students will fall behind and some may drop out. Free and continually access to computers will also encourage distance learning and attendance at one of the many Open Universities of Palestine. Women, who are often more restrained than men in travel, may become the greatest beneficiaries of this resource. The Al-Shmoh Cultural Center currently owns 6 refurbished computers which can be troublesome and are insufficient for a population of more than 7,800. Not only do they provide access to the computers and internet for free, but the Center also offers several computer courses in Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet, Power Point, Visual Basics, Multi-media as well as several educational programs in language and science. In order to effectively serve the community needs to increase the number and quality of its computers.