Mumbai: IBM India has announced the launch of its community relations initiative, IBM KidSmart Early Learning Programme, at an event held in Bangalore. This launch further strengthens IBM''s commitment to community in India.

The IBM KidSmart is the only programme in India aimed at introducing technology at the pre-school level. It is designed to help pre-school-aged children in disadvantaged sections of the society in the age group of three to seven to get a head-start on their academic development through the use of age-appropriate software developed by IBM.

Says IBM India managing director Abraham Thomas: "IBM''s community initiatives focus on education and children and leverage our expertise in technology to address societal issues. The objective of IBM KidSmart is to reach technology to the economically weaker and disadvantaged sections of India to accelerate their progress and also to bridge the digital divide between various sections of the society. By targeting pre-school children, we hope to provide long-lasting solutions to the existing digital divide in India."

Two hundred and fifty ''Young Explorer Units'' have been donated across 44 schools in 16 states in India. Plans are afoot to donate another 250 units by end of the year to reach close to 10,000 children. These units are specially designed computer units with colourful furniture, preloaded with age appropriate software, printers and educational materials.

The programme helps children understand basic concepts like alphabets and numbers, and focuses on developing reading skills among children at an early stage in their lives. The KidSmart software focuses on reading and writing skills, numbers and assists children in concept formation and self-directed learning.

KidSmart will also focus on the professional development of teachers of the participating schools. Teachers will be trained on using the Young Explorer units. The programme envisages a learning network of teachers who will interact and communicate with each other to exchange, discuss and develop creative resources and materials to develop reading skills in children.

A wide range of schools has been brought together under this project — aanganwadis, government schools, corporation schools, army schools, navy schools and trust-run schools. This programme will be further enhanced by adding local language software to customise the programme to meet local requirements. IBM India is working with the Promise Foundation for teacher training and programme support for this initiative.