Project information

StatusFinalist
URLGo to website
CategoryEducation
CountryZambia
Operational areasRural
Target groupsChildren, Youth, Women, Men
Fixed connectionDSL, Cable
Wireless connectionWiFi
Access pointsSchool, Telecenter, Cafe
InteractLandline Phone, Desktop Computer, Cellphone, Laptop
Software License TypesOpen Source, Proprietary

Project location

Random images Challenge 2008

OperationTECHNOLOGY

  • Brief description
  • To introduce and integrate the use of ICT into schools and communities as a way of empowering individuals and communities and helping to build developmental capacity.
  • Vision, Objectives and Goals
  • Our vision is a future where individuals and communities have sufficient access to relevant technology to effectively address their needs. The objectives are address the issue of access by providing computer equipment to schools and communities and to provide to training to ensure people have the skill to make effective use of technology. So far, we have introduced or improved the use of information communications technology into 7 institutions including primary and secondary schools, a hospital and a teacher training college. With this initial effort, we became the first organization to introduce the use of computer technology into primary schools in Zambia. We are now working on sourcing additional equipment and adding four more schools to our community partners in 2007. Through OperationTECHNOLOGY, we have trained 10 teachers in basic computer skills and hope to add 10 more. The teachers will in return train students at their respective schools and we hope to enlist their newly acquired skills in training other teachers from other schools as we expand our services. We have created a basic computer training curriculum for teachers in the area that they can use to teach their students. As a way of improving teachers' skills we are introducing the Teaching of Mastery Certicate designed by Teachers Without Borders to all our teachers. This will help inmprove teachers skills through a series of workshops and seminars. Upon completion of the course teachers will not only be better instructors but also have the skill to use ICT to improve their teaching experience by engaging it to among other things track and monitor students progress. This will greatly reduce the time teachers spend on such tasks making them more efficient and effective. Finally for 2007, we are working on helping the local hospital intergrate ICT into their daily operations, beginning with the conversion of their paper based records into electronic format. The current system is outdated, archaic and cumbersome making it difficult not only to retrieve records but maitain them which is critical to monitoring patiennt progress including regimens. Upon completion, the project will significantly improve the hospital's operations as well as the delivery of health.
  • How does ICT contribute to the organisational objectives
  • ICT plays a critical role in our organization, enabling us to define, articulate and implement our initiatives. Being an organization working between countries, it would be nearly impossible to achieve any of our goals. Project planning communication, analysis and evaluation is often than not undertaken over the Internet. Enabling us to communicate and get feedback in real time. Which allows us to act on information and effectuate solutions as and when they are needed.
  • Transferability
  • Yes. Our method is very simple and thus easily transferable and duplicable. It is one that can be easily implemented well by individuals and communities. The described initiative was implemented by two people, the Executive Director and a volunteer Community Relations Officer. Now that teachers have the necessary training, they will be engaged in providing training to the new crop of teachers from new partner schools. They in return will teach teachers and students from their respective schools. 2 has turned into 10 trained teachers and ten will replicate into 30 in 2007 In addition we are now working with the local teacher training college to incorporate our basic computer training curriculum into their curriculum so that by the time they graduate, they will have these skills and can easily impart them to their students. Ours is an initiative that is inclusive in that it suppports students, empowers educators and engages communities. Our strategy can also be adopted by government and other non-profit agencies and incorporated into already existing programs to expand and enhance what is already available.
  • Project summary
  • Our overall goal as an organization is to provide developmental support to individuals and communities as a way of empowering them with the resources and skills they need to do things for themselves. In addititon to basic training we provide computers to schools and other institutions. Technology is critical to development yet our communities do not have access to it. The issues in the communities we work in is mainly two fold. Access and skill. In order to address this, we provide computers and in so doing effectively address the issue of access. Second, we provide basic computer training and in doing ensuring people do not only have access but the necessary skill to make effective use of these resources. Information Communication Technologies play a vital and multi-faceted role in ProjectEDUCATE. From administrative to training; providing a platform for the exchange of information and resources as well as aiding the identification of resources be they local or international to help in initiative implementation. ICT enables us to not only communicate within the organization but monitor project processes and evaluation in addition to design and implementation. Through the use of ICT we are able to provide training to teachers, youth and the community. Improving teaching and job skills. we also use ICT to connect teachers and students in Zambia with their counterparts in other countries fostering and encouraging cultural exchange and better understanding between people from diverse and different cultures. Thus far, ProjectEDUCATE's introduced or improved the use of ICT in 7 institutions. Becoming the first organization in Zambia to introduce the use of computers into primary schools. ICT plays a vital role in enabling us to meet our objectives. Allowing us to i. effectively and efficiently communicate within and outside the organization ii.connect individuals and communities locally and abroad. iii.empower students and teachers with life long skills iv.improve the quality of education by enhancing efficiency v. provide us with a platform to articulate and present our work and services not just to our community but the world.