[street noise]
>>Merle Bush: We had the Internet Society
and our group was called the
Harlem Internet Computer Access Program.
[street noise]
>>Merle Bush: So we're here today - it's been a while
since I've met with the students of HICAP
- so this was an opportunity for me to
see some of the some of the students who attended.
>>Narrator: What is the most significant achievement in this project?
>>Merle Bush: Well, the biggest achievement I believe
was getting the people to be interested in
computer and the Internet, because most
of the people that came to class had a
fear of computers because it sounded
like it was outside of their reach.
So the fact that they came to class, and
they also mastered the class, that was
the biggest achievement. And what helped
us to be able to master the class was
the Internet Society in providing us -
we had a laptop,
everybody had a laptop, we had a large
monitor, and we were able to,
we were able to to leap into the future with that.
>>LaJoyce Walker: Well I like what I see when I'm here
now, and I like the people that I was taught by.
>>Barbara Stephens: The project was moving beautiful!
>>Merle Bush: We've made leaps and bounds,
and also the way I tried to instruct is so that my
students don't need me. I instruct so
that if i'm not there they can kind of
figure it out for themselves. So I think
that's where I left them.
>>Barbara Stephens: I'm still using the skills acquired because I
go through my notes, I get on my computer, and
I remember the things that Mrs. Bush taught me.
It gives me strength.
>>Narrator: What was the biggest challenge and how did you solve it?
>> Merle Bush: I think the biggest challenge was having
comfortable seats for the seniors.
We were sitting on hard chairs. I know it
doesn't mean a lot to other people, but
sitting on those hard chairs - people were
bringing down pillows, and you know that
kind of thing. So the way that was
solved again was through the Internet Society.
>> Barbara Stephens: I just appreiate the kindness
and the goodness that Mrs. Bush - and the
interest that they are taking to us seniors,
you understand me?
She's one of a kind.
>> Narrator: Is there anything you would do differently?
>> Merle Bush: If I were able
to - say if I hit the lottery or something
like that - I would have continued classes,
I would continue giving classes.
>> Barbara Stephens: Yeah I would like to know more.
>>LaJoyce Walker: If I could use it now,
what I would want to know more
about - it would be what's happening in
the world, you know, what's happening
around us, you know what's happening in our
cities, you know. I would like
to know that, and the truth.
>> Narrator: What advice would you give to those who are thinking of applying?
>>Merle Bush: I would ask them to be plain, and answer
all the questions that they ask, because I...
There's a formula to what they ask you,
And have a dedication to the people
you're going to serve.
This is from the Asians in our class, Mrs Jan Chao,
and her daughter Yang Yi, and Hao Chao.
and it warms my heart.
>>Hao Chao Wu: Yeah, yeah, they lend a computer.
Yeah, they give me - they teach me the computer.
I taught the American, the lessons, so
I need to speak a little bit the
English. It's okay. [laughs] >>Merle Bush: And their interest
was speaking to their daughter in China.
Yang Yi, yeah.
So she would, they would show us
pictures of their whole family in China...
>>Hao Chao Wu: Yeah I like it they come, continue!
>>Barbara Stephens: I use the email, sometime I use them.
>>LaJoyce Walker: And you want me to be honest? I'm a gambler.
I use my machines to gamble with. The Internet,
all of that. You know? I just
like to gamble. And that's me.
>> Merle Bush: What the Internet has done is it has forged
lifelong relationships. You know these
people will be in my life forever
[Radio plays music]