We are now in the second week of training with the young Muslim women at the Technology for the People resource center in Chandrayangutta. The training is well-attended and the girls are enjoying the curriculum immensely. They have already mastered the digital camera, and are now practicing the art of filming and video editing. Their first photo projects, which they are now finalizing in PowerPoint, explore a variety of traditional arts and crafts, many of them unique to the Hyderabadi Muslim culture, such as embroidery, jewelry manufacturing, or the design and painting of wedding cards. Stay tuned for their photos and presentations!

The lessons are moving along rather fast, since it is easy to teach these girls, given the complex software that they are already familiar with. They can work expertly in Photoshop, Corel Draw, 3DS, Flash and HTML, so teaching them film editing is not a difficult endeavor at all, and it is truly a pleasure working with them. Particularly because of their more advanced computer skills, I found that I had to modify the curriculum a lot, in order to make sure that I am catering to their needs and their learning styles. For instance, while teaching them about the digital cameras, I was explaining the correct way to insert the batteries (with the negative and positive poles), and, watching their expressions, I realized I am almost offending them by starting from such a basic level! I am very proud to work with them, and it is a pleasure getting to know them as well and to talk to them, whether it is about the Deccan Chargers or modern make-up or Hindu-Muslim relations. TFTP has done a fantastic job of molding these girls into confident, outgoing and extremely inquisitive young women, and I am happy that TMS now has the privilege to contribute to their education and development.

Ioana, Sujatha, Neha, Asma and Huma

Practicing with the video camera

An interview in the computer lab

The rocky way up to the TFTP Resource Center : an excellent picture taken by Huma

Tabassum is photographing the scenic view over the Old City

A little walk up the hill, to practice with the digital cameras

Ioana with four of her students, overlooking the Charminar area

Zakeera, Tabassum, Sujatha, Asma and Huma