Prepared from notes by Paul Dickins BSc, MCP, C&G Instrumentation
Pilot Project: Life Assistance Programme

Framework originally proposed by JUST Advocacy Group (Neil Russell).
Object: To provide computer based life skills education to a disadvantaged group of people, namely those currently incapable of obtaining gainful employment: Especially those, through whatever cause, unable to frequent a classroom.
The ultimate goal is for each student to gain a GED (General Education Diploma).

An indication of the horrors that await the uneducated and illiterate amongst us. This is a chart of the injuries found on the body of Victoria Climbié. If authorities had done their jobs this would not have happened:

Programme:
A1. Pilot programme contains 25 individuals.
A2. Duration: 1 (one) year.
A3. Students are referred to the programme by Social Services/Workfare, etc., from among those who are isolated. For example, new immigrants, disabled (child or parent), those having no access to daycare, or have language and reading problems.

B1. Computers (27), a range of software, website hosting (for example http://lifeassistance.ca is currently available).
B2. Online workshops and printed material based on courses given at Algonquin College Continuing Education.
B3. Courses will include shopping, budgeting, cooking and parenting.
B4. Courses will be multilingual where necessary, eg., Russian and English; French and English, associated with ESL studies.
B5. Remedial reading as required, provided through ABC Canada.

Funding:
C1. Majority of funding provided by Province and by Workfare. It is understood that some $600,000 has already been earmarked for this project.
C2. Computers to be supplied, possibly from a government computer retrieval programme.
C3. Financial probity to be maintained by using the United Way as intermediary.

Staffing:
D1. Instructor(s).
D2. Translator (or service).
D3. Computer Technician (hardware, software, website).
D4. Examiner(s), possibly Algonquin College staff.

People charting: some ideas on age differences:

Emails received/sent regarding the Programme:
Email 001; Email 002; Email 003 CAP; Email 004 Notes and NAPO-ONAP; Email 005 RFI re RFP
Notes:
10/01/2002: There does seem to be an RFY related to this project. Neil Russell had one. I have attempted to find it, with no success.
10/07/2002: Improbable that the project was valid to begin with, given a recent conversation at the South East Ottawa Centre. Neil Russell seemingly had a tendency to assume that a mere possibility was a fact. That is unfortunate, to put it mildly.
Further Information:
The Canadian Women's Health Network article on poverty.
News from PovNet and from SocWatch (this from '98).
Links:
Algonquin College || Algonquin College Distance Education;
ABC Canada || abc and 123 dEcode;
Computers for Schools;
Ottawa-Carleton School Board || O-C Catholic School Board;
Ottawa City;
Ontario Government Speech (only link provided by Neil Russell);
Ontario Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services;
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  

Legal Services: Ottawa