The eight-session training program will be held between April 2 and May 28 every Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at La Parilla Restaurant near the Jeddah International Market. Bernie Gojo, the cooperative group’s new chairman, said participants will be introduced to the latest Microsoft operating system and office suite, Adobe Photoshop CS3 and the basics of Web design. An additional financial literacy seminar will be included on the last day of the computer seminar for those who wish to hone their basic accounting skills. Gojo said the financial literacy seminar is being included in this series by “popular request.” He said many OFWs have apparently realized the need to protect their hard-earned money in preparation for their eventual retirement. Formed in June 1996, the OFWCC, a federation of cooperatives operating in western Saudi Arabia, started by organizing entrepreneurship seminars. Computer literacy quickly became its flagship project. It has already produced thousands of graduates.

The OFWCC has also proved to be one of the most stable Filipino community organizations in the Kingdom. No member is allowed to be chairman more than once, which means it has to develop a pool of officers who are all given chances to lead.