ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and certification authority of the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) program in the Gulf, will grant free ICDL certification to thousands of children aged 12 and under across the Gulf.

The initiative aims to develop computer literacy at an early age in order to prepare Arab youth to use information technology as a tool for sustainable education.

The Foundation will promote its latest children-oriented campaign through the region’s education ministries, educational zones, schools and other academic organisations.

“As part of its campaign toward a digital society for all, ICDL GCC Foundation is committed to supporting the governments of the region by funding programs that benefit their community with computer skills,” said Jamil Ezzo, director general, ICDL GCC Foundation.

This new ICDL initiative, which will run until the end of the 2008-2009 academic year,  complements region-wide efforts to establish a digital society and reflects the importance placed by the organisation on the role of youth in the Arab World’s sustained development.

The Foundation had in fact recently honed the IT skills of more than 10,000 students throughout the Gulf during special training camps held during the summer of 2008. Aside from proficiency, these and other ICDL GCC youth programs also emphasize on the ethical and safe use of computers.

The Foundation which reported last October more than 600,000 registrations in its program in the Gulf region, presently administers and oversees the ICDL program through 1,800 approved centres in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.-TradeArabia News Service