IT MIGHT just be an outdated piece of junk to you but to children in India your old computer could be a lifeline out of crushing poverty.

The Rotary Club of Fareham Meon has appealed for people and businesses to donate their old machines, no matter what the age, to be used to train youngsters in IT skills.

Although food, clothing and the other necessities of life might sound more use to them the fact is that after being trained to use word processors they will be able to get jobs with one of the country's many companies now using computers.

The rotary club has set a target of 100 by March to ship out to the south eastern coastal city of Madras. It has so far collected 30.

Rotarian and Trustee of the Interantional Children's Trust Richard Gardner visited the Vocational Training Centre and Boy's Home in Madarapakham in 1999 with fellow Rotarian Brian Ray.

He said: "In the poorer areas girls are still learning traditional typing skills but there's no jobs for them without computer skills. There's a level of ignorance. "The rest of the world is tearing away from them, they are being left further and further behind.

"They need computer training and skills to get them out of this hole and we've got people over here just chucking these machines away."

They will go to two buildings set up by the club; a residential school that caters for 40 seven to 11-years-olds whose family's are too poor to give them an education and a training centre which teaches boys and girls air conditioning and mechanical skills.

Terminals will also be sent to educational facilities in the region. The centre in Madara-pakham has two computers between 2,000 pupils.

To donate a computer call Mr Gardner on 01329 283813 or Bob Taubman on 01329 280790.