Dominique & Stephane discuss their experience at ECA holiday program.

Dominique 1. Why did you choose to undertake this holiday program?

I have chosen to undertake this computer holiday program because with the High Technology nowadays, everything has been computerize .Due to this fact, there is a need for me to know about computer. Besides, the computer holiday program will also help to occupied me during this Long holiday period.

2. How do you think it's going to help you in your future career?

I think it's going to help me in my future career because today everything is computerized. And with the knowledge from the computer holiday program will be able to bring innovations, and may be save confidential information (secret professional) or do some researches concerning my future career.

3. What are your future goals and ambitions studying computer?

My future goal and studying computer is due its team as a fashionable instrument which can be used to measure the intellectual capacity of someone and I don't want to be part of those who don't have any basic knowledge of it. As for my ambition I wish to be a computer engineer. So, studying computer now will help me to be a bit familiar with its functioning and it basics which will help me full in perusing my goals.

Stephane Pourquoi avez-vous choisi d'entreprendre ce programme de vacances?

J'ai choisi d'entreprendre ce programme de vacances, parce que, avec la haute technologie de nos jours, tout a été d'informatiser. De ce fait, il existe un besoin pour moi de savoir sur ordinateur. En outre, l'ordinateur de vacances programme contribuera également à me occupés au cours de cette longue période de vacances. Nous savons tous que dans le mondeentier l'informatique est a la cle de tous activite et c'est pour cela que nous devions apprendre a travailler et a traier les information

Comment pensez-vous que cela va vous aider dans votre future carrière?

Je pense que cela va m'aider dans ma carrière, car aujourd'hui tout est informatisé. Et avec la connaissance de l'ordinateur du programme de vacances, je vais être en mesure d'apporter des innovations, et de mai enregistrer des informations confidentielles (secret professionnel) ou faire des recherches concernant ma future carrière. L'infiormatique est comme pour nous aujourd'hui un pasport dans le dommaine de l'mploie et c'est pourquoi j'ai decider de faire 'limformatique pour faire plus tard les dessind'achitecture et mieu travailler dans word et exel ou encord etre plus tard un ingegnieur et pour pouvoir construir nos route et developper notre pays.

Quels sont vos objectifs pour l'avenir et les ambitions d'étudier l'informatique?

Mon objectif futur est d'étudier l'informatique en raison de son équipe comme un instrument de la mode qui peut être utilisé pour mesurer la capacité intellectuelle de quelqu'un, et je ne veux pas faire partie de ceux qui n'ont pas de connaissances de base de celui-ci. Quant à mon ambition, je tiens à être un ingénieur en informatique. Ainsi, l'étude de l'ordinateur maintenant m'aidera à être un peu familier avec le fonctionnement de base et qui pourra m'aider en pleine lecture de mes objectifs. Il est bien et tres avantegieux l'apprentissage de l'informatique parce que avec sa nous pouvons tout faire en 2010 celui qui ne serai capable d'ultiliser un ordinateur ne serai pas a la pointe de l'information.

Why computer education is important for youths in Cameroon: ECA summer camp experience.

Summer Camp Computer youth program

According to the Princeton review, computer science now ranks in the top 10 of undergraduate majors for young people entering American Universities. It is for this reason that in most parts of the world, even in developing countries, like Cameroon – computer science education is fastly being integrated into primary and secondary school curriculum. Some of the advantages of learning computers early are teamwork, algorithmic thought process, problem solving practice and comfort with emerging technology.

Summer camp youths listen to computer lectures. Over the past years, we see computers vastly becoming popular as household items. Imagine the luxury of sending an instant email instead of posting a letter. Checking news, weather and watching even favorite sports programs via the internet has become a normal routine.

Today our children’s lives are getting influenced by technology. We find computers in use everywhere, whether going to the supermarket or bank. This is because it is faster and helps us complete our work without mistakes. It is in this regards that parents too have to realize the need to help children develop strong computer skills. Computers and internet are here to stay with software titles targeting children increasingly available in the market.

Internet research session at Summer computer camp

One benefit of the computer is that children are learning to become smarter. They are growing up computer literate and thus will have a huge advantage in their future lives. One reason is because computer literacy has become a huge job qualification and developing an early comfort zone puts children ahead.

At ECA, we have therefore developed a computer literacy program every summer holiday to train our youths, and acquaint them with specific knowledge of computer technology. Our program focuses on the following principles:

1. Teaching young people operational skills by immerging them in a variety of software programs and internet technology
2. Creating an awareness of what the computer can do, as a tool for learning and finding out about things through research.
3. An awareness of ideas and behavior that are part of the computer culture, such as knowledge of safe behavior on the internet.
4. A body of successful experiences that over time will develop within a young person the intuition for dealing with new things he or she encounters in a computer environment.
5. A clear attitude of the mastery, discovery, purpose and pleasure in using computer effectively.

Students pose with instructor In general, computers are offering substantial benefits to young children and their overall development. With parental guidance, quality software, safe surfing tips, their own love of discovery and learning, we see that children can reap lifelong benefits of computer literacy for the rest of their technology filled lives. Accordingly, if a family can afford a computer without sacrificing other important items for the child, then the current environment calls for an investment on a computer. This tool will in most occasions replace books for learning and be integrated in the family’s day to day activities.

Choosing a Career in Computer Hardware Engineering:

Computer Laboratory for hardware testing

One of the most difficult decisions every young person has to make in their lifetime is deciding on a career. It is even a more daunting task in societies where there are few or no career counselors in high schools, and universities where such decisions can be made much early.

For most young people, figuring out what their purpose in life is and how to find their dream career is a lifetime decision. Who is there to guide them through this crucial life cycle stage? It isn’t everyone who can set goals and believe they will work for him or her. It is therefore important to know who you are first as well as where you want to be in life down the road. There is no doubt; everyone has a purpose on earth. For some people, it may becoming a musician, soccer player, lawyer or computer hardware engineer.

We have discussed about the importance of computer education and how it has become an integral part of life. It is therefore a given that computer knowledge coupled with certain job skills increases one’s chance of getting a job. Higher education involving network administration, hardware maintenance or software skills open doors for brighter job opportunities.

Computer Hardware Engineer:

Within the domain of computers, the hardware engineer’s job includes research, development and installation of computer hardware. Ideally a Bachelors degree in engineering or technology is required to work as a computer hardware engineer. The rapid improvements we see today in computer technology are due to the work of computer hardware engineers and technicians.

Circuit Board design by Hardware Engineer

They design and test keyboards, modems, computer chips, printers, circuit boards, computer systems and also oversee the manufacturing of these items. To become a successful computer hardware engineer you must be creative, analytically minded and detail oriented. You must also be willing to work in a team environment since hardware engineers must relate with people from a variety of fields as well as having good interpersonal skills.

Fully designed computer motherboard - heart of personal computer

A typical day in the life of a computer hardware engineer may include providing technical support to designers, marketing and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process. He or she may also test and verify hardware support peripherals to ensure they meet specifications by recording and analyzing test data. Finally, the hardware engineer may monitor the functioning of equipment, make modifications, analyze information to determine, recommend and plan layout.

If you are therefore thinking about a career as a computer hardware engineer, then you are about to make a wise life decision. The opportunities for income generation and growth are enormous. You are on the right path to success.