(Borneo Post; May 4, 2011)

KUCHING: George Abraham Augustine Dealvia is a very happy man; he just recently graduated from the RiGHT Programme and is now on track to be the proud owner of his own ICT center.

George, who hails from Kampung Singai, Bau, completed 6 months of intensive training to become one of nine RiGHT (5th batch) graduates.

His final task before graduation was to prepare and present a business proposal for his own ICT Centre to his sponsor Assistant Minister of Environment Datuk Peter Nansian and Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) CEO Dato Teo Tien Hiong.

George pointed out that the setup of an ICT business center at Kampung Singai, Bau would provide IT support and services not only to the community, but also to the more than 10,000 people who reside in the surrounding area.

"The center will provide services such as printing, online payment services, internet surfing services, computer repair services, network system setup services and web design services", he said.

George also mentioned that he will use the centre to promote hadicrafts and home-stay activities in the area.

During the presentation, Nansian revealed that he had big plans for the sustainable usage of ICT in his community.

He was confident that the RiGHT participant would be able to guide the community in this.

"I hope SAINS will continue to provide him with support and advice, especially in terms of keeping him up to date with the latest changes in ICT technology", he said.

Meanwhile, Teo also affirmed that the candidates would continue operating on their own and SAINS would continue to provide different types of training for them to allow them to sustain themselves within their community.

More than 30 graduates from the RiGHT programme have successfully set-up ICT businesses in their villages or have been employed in established IT companies in Sarawak.

“RIGHT” Programme is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative designed and implemented by SAINS, specifically to bridge the rural-urban digital divide in Sarawak. It involves the training of rural youths to be ICT anchors and home-based technopreneurs in their respective communities. The uniqueness of the programme and its key success factor is the continuous handholding and guidance provided after the training by SAINS.

The programme won recognition as a Finalist in the 2008 MSC Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Award for the category of e-Inclusion and e-Community.The centre provides computer repairs, scanning, photocopying and printing services, selling computer accessories, besides assisting users in Internet skills and office automation.

For more information on the RIGHT Programme, visit www.right.sarawak.gov.my or contact the SAINS RIGHT Coordinator at 082-234008