Uddami Report 2007

what we do

Uddami is an American 501c3 nonprofit organization based in California that supports the Uddami Computer Technology Centre (Uddami CTC) in Calcutta, India.

Our aim is to increase the capacity of youth from low income communities in urban Calcutta so they can develop sustainable livelihoods in the mainstream ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector. These are the programs of Uddami CTC:

• UCTC (the school, our intial project) provides free and low-cost practical, job-oriented computer training for the disadvantaged. Students are youth and women from low-income communities.


• Uddami Partner Program (UPP) provides direct support to other NGOs who wish to start a computer centre based on the UCTC model. Currently Uddami partners with Tomorrow's Foundation, New Light, Sanlaap India, Shiksamitra, Apne Aap and Msiha.


• Teacher Training Program - the UCTC team trains computer teachers using the Uddami philosophy and our UCTC curriculum. Trainees are UCTC graduates who wish to teach as well as from other non-profit organizations that send staff to UCTC to be trained as computer teachers.


• Apprenticeship with Uddami Software Services - In early 2006 a for-profit business was created in conjunction with UCTC. Their pilot apprenticeship program gives graduates a chance to "earn while they learn". Real work experience coupled with marketable skills gives these young people the tools and self-esteem necessary to go out and be a success in the mainstream job market. We hire only our own graduates and currently have four full-time staff.


• Computer Training for the Deaf - Uddami offers free vocational computer training for deaf or hard of hearing students.


• Library - Both English and Bengali books are freely available to our students, teachers and graduates. Libraries are not accessible in Kolkata so this is a way for us to encourage literacy in English as well as Bengali.


• Financial Aid to Individuals for Education provides direct support to those of our students who need financial aid to finish their education. These funds are given by individual sponsors who wish to help our students finish or continue their education.

To learn more about Uddami Computer Training Centre, please take a look at these links:

Uddami Video, January 2007 produced by Alexia Pritchard of Netscape

http://uddamiindiafoundation.org maintained by the students of Uddami

Informática para los pobres de la India article by Hernán Zin (in Spanish)

Uddami Yearly Reports 2005 2006

Uddami in the news article on Uddami in Techsoup, June 2005

Interview with Alison 2002