Literacy for livelihoods in rural Bangladesh
The Centre for Urban Studies (CUS) is an independent research and training organisation that conducts poverty research in Bangladesh. Working with the Centre for Development through ODL, Publishing and Communication and Pimedia, a technology service provider, CUS is establishing a Learning Centre that will use information and communications technologies (ICTs) to provide education and skills training in one of the least developed areas of Bangladesh. This is one of the first initiatives in Bangladesh to use technology-mediated learning to teach adult literacy. By providing learners - primarily rural girls and women - with functional literacy and skills development, this project will help families generate income, which will substantially improve livelihoods.
Strengthening development initiatives in Bangladesh
Masjid Council for Community Advancement (MACCA) is a faith-based development and humanitarian organisation in Bangladesh. While government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are working to address significant social development issues in Bangladesh, a major challenge in reducing poverty is changing people's beliefs, misconceptions and behaviour. This project seeks to develop the capacity of different religious leaders to support and strengthen development initiatives. MACCA is developing a curriculum and self-instructional training modules using ODL to train religious leaders so they can work as "Faith Ambassadors" to complement ongoing efforts to achieve social development goals and poverty reduction.
ICTs for agriculture and rural development in Kenya
Kenyatta University is government-sponsored university in Kenya with more than 21,000 students. Through this project, the university seeks to reduce poverty among peasant farmers in Kakamega District in Western Kenya. Some 75 percent of farmers in this area live below the poverty line. The main reasons are lack of knowledge and information. The university is working with local partners to develop an agricultural knowledge ICT centre that will use computers, television, telephones and radio to deliver agricultural information to farmers and their families, enhancing their ability to access better markets and prices for their produce. Poor farmers and young women will benefit from the market information centres, access to jobs and income-generating activities.
Teachers Talking: Computer literacy training for teachers in Kenya
Charity for African Welfare and Development (CAWD) is charity based in Kenya, Nigeria and the UK, which promotes the use of ICTs in rural Africa. "Teachers Talking" is an introduction to ICTs designed specifically, but not exclusively, for rural teachers. It promotes alternatives to rote learning and encourages teachers to see themselves as members of a worldwide connected community. The ultimate objective is to enable teachers to enter into informed debate and influence policy regarding ICTs in education in rural Africa. The project uses ICTs to provide train-the-trainer sessions to teachers, who can then share their knowledge about ICTs with colleagues, pupils and local communities. This project is building the capacity of teachers to become productive citizens and to compete in the computerised global marketplace.
Literacy and education for youth in Pakistan
Established in 1974, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) was the first open university in Asia. It is a distance education institution that provides basic to doctoral level programmes. This project seeks to provide functional literacy, health education, psychological rehabilitation and skills-based training to the youth of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province and the Jammu and Kashmir region. As many teachers have lost their lives and schools have been damaged in recent earthquakes, the project will use multi-media ODL to provide a second chance at education and the opportunity to learn livelihood skills for the garment-making industry. All the materials will also be available online through AIOU's website. This will help bring out-of-school youth back into the stream of educational development and economic activity.
Winneba Open Digital Village, Ghana
oneVillage Foundation-Ghana is an all-volunteer NGO in Ghana that works to increase access to ICTs in under-served communities to address the digital divide and increase economic opportunity. This project is focussed on ICT capacity building and community development. It involves developing ODL modules to teach the rural poor ways to get balanced nutrition from locally available foods, providing low-cost wireless access to the general community and strengthening ICT capacity in major training institutions. It will also include developing and broadcasting radio programmes through local community radio stations. By providing educational, governmental and health care institutions with increased access to ICTs, this project will enhance education, health care, economic development and livelihoods.
