August 29, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Mahwah Peace Corps volunteer brings computer lab to Garoua puter lab to complete their homework and develop computer literacy. The lab also offers affordable computer (continued on page 17) Front row (far left): Melissa Persaud at her Peace Corps post in Garoua, Cameroon with a group of women who completed Persaud’s small business skills course and will be using the computer lab to create their business proposals. In the spirit of expanding opportunities for girls and women in underdeveloped countries, Melissa Persaud, a Peace Corps volunteer and Mahwah High School graduate, has begun a computer lab/multi-media center project in Garoua, Cameroon. Persaud’s assignment to this French-speaking nation is a perfect match as she is fluent in French and conducts her work in Cameroon entirely in that language. The computer lab program provides computer access to high school girls and literate women in the local community. Women will be able to use the lab to develop relevant computer skills so they may prepare business plans to be used in seeking bank loans, and charitable funding to grow their small businesses. High school girls will use the com-