MEND Education and Training Center: Computer Lab Program

With dignity and respect, powered by volunteers, MEND’s mission is to break the bonds of poverty by providing basic human needs and a pathway to self-reliance.

We affirm that every person, created in the image of God, has innate human dignity and the right to be treated with respect, recognizing the worth of each individual.

The Computer Lab program provides computer classes and workshops that are catered to improve and/or build essential office skills necessary in today’s workforce, such as typing, Internet and E-mail utilization, Word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.The program has three levels of computer classes for adults in three 14-week sessions. Level 1 students practice keyboarding, Internet access, and E-mail. Level 2 covers basic Windows 7 functions, Internet access, E-mail, and Microsoft Word. Level 3 concentrates on the Microsoft Office Suite, which includes the following applications: Word, Publisher, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. The Computer Lab also offers, 1 to 3 hour long workshops on subjects such as, job search, resume and cover letter building, antivirus software, and technology troubleshooting tips. They also learn to make business cards, create fliers, greeting cards and business letter formats. Students receive a Certificate upon completion of the courses and as incentives for perfect attendance, may win a free computer for their home. The office skills that our students develop here can definitely be applied to most work environments in the US. Due to an extensive waiting list, students are only allowed to repeat a course once. We expect at least 250 students to receive certificates in 2015.