By Alfred Hermida BBC News Online technology staff

Refugees in Belgium are being offered training in computer skills so that they will have a chance of a better future.

The scheme at a federal reception centre for refugees in Kapellen, just outside Antwerp, is run by volunteers and relies on donated computers.

The aim is to teach the migrants how to use computers and the internet while they wait to hear for the result of their application for refugee status.

"Experience with computers can open new opportunities for the person, whether it is to continue with language learning or with computer skills, or simply to be able to access the internet for news," said the centre's Rudi De Bleser.

"We offer the opportunity to acquire skills that may be useful to them in Belgium as well as in any other country, since only 20% gets a positive result to their asylum request."

Donated computers

The centre is home to 450 migrants, mainly from the former Soviet republic, as well as from Iran and Afghanistan.

The computers are a hit with children

The project started in 1999 with a set of computers donated by Oxfam. Several more came from the Ministry of Social Affairs, which had been planning to sell the machines as scrap metal.

"New and faster computers are put on the market every month, but the older ones are still fine and may be used effectively in non-commercial projects like this one," said Mr Bleser.

The centre now has 27 computers and the training is being provided by computer experts who have given their time for no payment.

The internet cafe has proved particularly popular as the refugees are able to use the web to find out the latest news from their native countries.

"The residents are very enthusiastic about the news. As one surfs often three or four sit behind him or her in order to read and discuss what is happening back home," said Mr Bleser.

"It allows access to dissenting views that may not be easily available in their own country."

Women only

The centre has also set aside special times and days of the week for women to use the computers.

Special times set aside for women

This was for cultural reasons, as many of the female refugees could not go when there were men present at the internet cafe.

"At first we had to really force the men to stay out and respect a bit of time for the ladies," said Diane Cavallero, who runs the computer classes at the centre.

"But it has progressed to men dropping off their wives at the library and picking them up at the end of the session - both parties feeling good about a nice, safe evening out."

The centre is now hoping to increase the number of computers available and improve the quality of the machines.

"Our cafe always has a full house and it is so popular that we almost have to beg people to stop and let us close for the evening," said Mr Bleser.