Project information

StatusFinalist
CategoryEducation
Private and public courses
CountryKenya
Operational areasRural
Target groupsChildren, Youth, Women, Men, Seniors
Fixed connectionDialup, Cable
Wireless connectionGSM, CDMA, 3G CDMA modems
Access pointsSchool, Telecenter, Cafe
InteractDesktop Computer, Cellphone, PDA CDMA modems
Software License TypesOpen Source, Proprietary

Project location

Random images Challenge 2008

PENTSYS TECHNOLOGY KENYA.

  • Brief description
  • PENTSYS TECHNOLOGY is rural based computer literacy training providers.We have two IT centres in the rural areas of Eastern part of kenya in collaboration with a local church.More than 60% of our population live in rural areas and hence there is a huge number of people and generally the youth who are locked out of ICT facilitie as it is only available in the main and major towns.We are teaching the communities around on basic computer concepts and skills so that people can use computer technology in everyday life to develop new social and economic opportunities for themselves,families,community and the entire country.The curriculum we have developed is designed to develop a fundamental understanding of computers through the usage of softwares,hardware,Internet,sending mails,and creating  resumes. 

    We are fostering access to computers,internet,and other digital technologies to gather information,create,learn and communcate while they develop essential digital skills.We also offer consultancy on IT by guiding enterpreneurs about the opportunities in ICT and related field that could be useful to the young people who are joining the labour market.We also advice them on how to run successful business and projects through the use of computers and digital technologies.We also offer guidances to people who are already in businesses on how to use ICT and specifically computers to manage,enhance and market their services and products locally by use of databases management programs and internet. We seek to harness the vast untapped potential of the rural areas by making ICT and related technologies accessible and affordable to a wider population through the development and utilization of the resources available.
  • Vision, Objectives and Goals
  • VISION: Growing locally succeeding globally. To have an empowered community where this initiative can be implementing across the national borders. We envision a network of ICT/information centers stretching from local boundaries and benefiting hundred thousand of rural residents all over the world. MISSION: Educate, empower, inform, and transform the rural communities and especially the youth from digitally deprive society to a digitally reliant people. By training them, they can be able to explore either fields that are ICT related for the betterment of themselves the community and the entire country. We are Breaking the bottleneck that comes from ICT illiteracy by initiating development through training by use of ICT and digital technology. OBJECTIVE: Mid-wiving rural-urban digital divide by offering ICT service by informing, empowering and transforming through training the youth and the whole community at large on how to use ICT technology for a better future. GOALS: Train 1500 students by the end of year 2009.We have currently been able to train more than 600 students since the inception of these centers. We are looking forward to opening two new centers by the end of the year to cater for more people. One of them will be mobile to cater for those places where there are no ICT provisions.
  • How does ICT contribute to the organisational objectives
  • The use of CDMA modems and phones has brought and opened new opportunities that were untapped. The place has no ISP providers and this makes it difficult for any internet connection to be available. We started using the CDMA modems through connections of a fixed line operator who has just introduced mobile phone services and hence internet services. Using the CDMA modems/phones, we have introduced a service that otherwise looked impossible to many.Peple are visiting the centre to inquire about the connection and also send and receive mails, visit other governmental site as well as private and commercial sites. We are getting new ideas from the internet from other organizations and enterprises that are crucial and vital and they have helped us improve our services by sharing through this network. We search and download and then we dispatch the information to our students.
  • Transferability
  • The organization that would be required to replicate this kind of a project must be community based organization where people become like the owners of the project. They also need to do the following:- ?They need to partner for smooth flow of information and exchange of ideas for technical support and proper implementations small private group can also replicate but they need to know why they are doing it. ?They have to have a very clear objective of whether they want a social enterprise, commercial or combination of both. This should be done to avoid conflict of interest after implementing the project. ?An organization to execute such program needs the government for proper and legal registrations and permits where it applies. In order to work without hindrances they require to be registered with the relevant government department. ?They also need to be aware of hindrances that come with project management and should have a very strong, ready and willing technical/support team in order to delegate their duties efficiently and effectively.
  • Project summary
  • The project gets an increase in number of students at the beginning of the year. We plan to have internet access for the new students and this will give our project a major boost Beside the need of internet connections also need computers to replace those which have broken down and are beyond repair. The expansion from training by use of standalone computers to internet by use of CDMA has created awareness that our services are expanding to new levels. The use of emails and text messages is improving our communications with our students. By getting enough resources, we will be able to set a satellite dish that will use the VSAT technology or Wireless communications so that we can have full time access to the internet in an affordable and reliable means. Training them on basic computer uses and then to internet services for communication purposes has helped us realize the power of ICT as a tool for communication is still attainable soon.