HELPING EX-OFFENDERS TO FIND WORK SOONER
HCSA is now working towards finding jobs for those who have completed the computer literacy course.
The non-profit organisation has, for instance, employed one resident of Highpoint Halfway House to do data entry.
“I used to be intimidated by computers. So now, I have more confidence to use them,” said Mr Larry Sociago, a programme coordinator at HCSA Community Services.
“I would like to go further (with my Microsoft skills). This is only a basic course. So my intention is to go for an advanced one, hopefully.”
HCSA has plans to work with its partner, technology company Acronis, to offer more of such courses.
“Currently, they are training in Microsoft skills, the essentials of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, but as the world gets more digital, we want to make them future ready,” said Ms Trish Ng, education projects manager at Acronis Cyber Foundation.
“Acronis is looking into perhaps more information or knowledge about machine learning, AI (artificial intelligence), and also of course, cybersecurity.”
HCSA also has an academy that conducts a similar culinary training course for its residents who are looking for a stable career in the food and beverage industry.
It has plans to replicate these programmes for the logistics sector by next year.