Compu-Metro Initiative Inaugurated

Compu-Metro Initiative Inaugurated
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic  12/9/2011

The idea of the initiative is that all Metro users, in addition to quick access to their destinations, also have state-of-the-art computer access points to retrieve a wide variety of on-sight information, technology and reading material.

She explained that the idea of Compu-Metro is that users not only have quick access to where they are going but also have direct contact with knowledge and technology…

First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, formally inaugurated the installations of Compu-Metro in the Centro de los Héroes station. This is a new initiative that seeks to provide Metro riders with the possibility of using this high-end technology and to be connected and involved with the world of reading.

Answering reporters’ questions, Cedeño de Fernández said the Office of the First Lady is trying to innovate and meet the needs of the country’s youth. “Today I think we are making history in the Dominican Republic. It is the first ever Internet classroom with access to a large number of books that we have selected based on the demographics of those who use the Metro.”

She explained that the idea of Compu-Metro is that users not only have quick access to where they are going but also have direct contact with knowledge and technology while they are in the station.

She said that with the Compu-Metro classroom, the goal is to continue contributing to education and to offer opportunities to all members of the population but especially to the most needy and the youth who are the most excited to be on the cutting edge with this new research and technology.

“The idea is that if they are going to University and they have no time to do a certain research or study, they can stop here in this space and use the high speed Internet we’ve installed and they can finish up their studies. This way, they continue advancing and progressing,” Margarita Cedeño.

The center has 12 Internet stations and the same number of reading stations so that visitors can have their reading material at hand for quick consultation.  Daily newspapers, magazines and other media information are also available.

In this space, users of the Metro of Santo Domingo will also have the opportunity to exchange books. There will be a “Take a Book, Leave a Book” spot where books can circulate freely among readers. People can take a book home then bring it or another book back in exchange for others to enjoy.

“For a country of readers,” is the theme of the initiative which forms part of the larger “I am Learning to Read” project underway through the Office of the First Lady (DPD in Spanish) which seeks to motivate reading as a right and as a learning alternative and healthy pastime among all the population, especially children and young people.

Around the world, Metro and Subway stations and train cars are being used as places to promote culture and reading books. There are many initiatives underway that encourage riders to read, some of which involve the distribution of printed material that can be read during the subway or metro ride.