Solar cooking lessons via telecentres in Nigeria
This initiative, submitted by the Fantsuam Foundation, produced training materials on solar cooking and spread the knowledge using ICTs. It also conducted research on materials and methods for sharing information and knowledge via ICTs and distance learning in Africa.
Learning for fishing communities in India
From Andhra Pradesh, India, the organisation Constant Service in Developing Education and Rural Reconstruction developed community-based distance learning for development among fisher folk. The project was aimed at creating awareness of improved methods of fish post-harvesting technology and self-supportive women's co-operatives. The focus was on women and girls of fishing communities who stay on land while men are out deep-sea fishing.
Kitchen gardens and nutrition initiative in Kenya
This project was conducted by Women in the Fishing Industry Project (WIFIP) Trust in Kisumu, Kenya. The focus was on enabling women and other community members in Lake Victoria, Western Kenya to improve their health and economic status by receiving information on good nutrition and its impact on health, establishing and maintaining kitchen gardens and making and using organic compost for their gardens. COL awarded WIFIP with an Excellence in Distance Education Award for the handbook developed for women's learning group facilitators at the Fourth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in 2006. The handbook was described as "...learner-centred, interactive and an excellent example of teaching practice."
Small business training for rural women in Cameroon
This initiative, brought forward by Protégé QV, helped rural women in the Upper Nkam Division develop new skills and start micro-enterprises. By demonstrating that the use of radio and cell phones using short message service (SMS) would enable rural women in Cameroon to learn and develop new skills, the project prompted them to move from a survivalist mentality and engage themselves professionally in a micro-enterprise.
Computer skills coaching in the Solomon Islands
The Rural Development Volunteer Association of Honiara, Solomon Islands, developed a project for the coaching of rural trainers. The project focussed on strengthening the Youth First Computer Centre, an existing ICT resource and learning centre for young people.
