Volunteering with omputer know-how

Nowadays, grandchildren tend to know much more about computers than their grandparents do. It's rare to find an enthusiastic and knowledgeable computer whiz aged 75 like Shimon Garfinkle in Netanya who can hold his own and frequently surpass young people in theoretical and applied computer expertise.

Shimon, a computer engineer and programmer who came on aliyah from Canada in 1984, followed the lead of the late Danny Avivi, founder of ESRA's computer centers at absorption centers, projects for adult immigrants (See ESRA Magazine no.125 June-August 2004).

When Danny, on ESRA's behalf was collecting used computers for repair and use,   Shimon, a digital systems pioneer, volunteered to place excess assemblies in his building's shelter in Netanya's Kiryat Nordau quarter, checking and fixing them. He then distributed them to deserving youngsters and adults for nominal sums which were forwarded to ESRA. Shimon was entrusted with a key to the Histadrut youth club nearby where he stored donated computer assemblies and parts in two rooms. In due course, these Kiryat Nordau club rooms were adapted and transformed into ESRA's first Right Track center for local adolescents. Meanwhile, Shimon readied extra working assemblies for study groups of immigrants at Netanya's Ben Yehuda Immigrant Absorption Center. He also gave voluntary introductory lessons and assistance to computer users.

Shimon's eyes gleam when he speaks about his computer volunteering exploits, which enable youngsters to aspire to and attain computer literacy. His work recalls the Disney Jiminy Cricket lyric: "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires will come to you.  If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme, when you wish upon a star as dreamers do."  In fact, the dream only became reality thanks to the nuts and bolts, nitty-gritty of repairing and readying computers for use.

Shimon and Edith have distributed ESRA Magazines in south Netanya for many long years, undertaken English tutoring with pupils at Ort Guttmann senior and junior high schools and helped facilitate ESRA committee meetings at Lev Ganim retirement home where Edith worked as a nurse. Continuing a lifelong volunteering spirit they first acquired as community activists in their hometown Montreal, they're still going strong, keeping involved with ESRA and other community groups.