[Ict4ruralwomeninafrica] Combined use of modern and traditional information and communication tools and technologies

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 16:58:26 +0100

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Combined use of modern and traditional information and communication
tools and technologies

Through the work of Dimitra's partner organisations, and during many of
the workshops and discussions to which the project has participated, it
has often been suggested that one effective way to reach rural
populations is by combining modern and traditional information and
communication tools. There is no one recipe for success and appropriate
methods need to be used according to the context, in order to reach
grassroots populations and make their voices heard.

While ICTs can help reduce the isolation of women and rural communities
by increasing their visibility and creating more opportunities to
participate in networks, many obstacles remain to accessing and using
ICTs in poor countries, in rural areas and for rural women in particular
(problems of language, content, infrastructure, cost, etc.)

During a Dimitra partners workshop in October 2002, some examples of
popular and combined ways to involve and reach out to rural populations
included rural radio, traditional methods (e. g. griots, public criers,
song, dance, drama), awareness-raising campaigns (in particular
sensitisation of traditional/religious community leaders), and formal
and informal networking. 

A successful example of how modern and traditional information and
communication tools and methods can be combined was presented at the
Know-How conference in July 2002 in Kampala, Uganda. A CD-ROM for rural
women on income-generating activities was translated into luganda (one
of the national languages of Uganda) and used sound and pictures to
break through the illiteracy and 'techno-phobia' barrier. The CD-ROM was
brought from village to village and demonstrated to the local women
using a portable computer powered by a car battery.  This initiative
proved very successful and subsequently motivated many women to take
action to improve their circumstances.  One important impact of this
initiative was that it brought women together to exchange their
experiences and share their problems.

We would be very interested to hear of any similar initiatives combining
traditional and modern technologies. 

The Dimitra team

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>=
</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b style=3D'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span lang=3DEN-GB =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Combined use of modern and traditional
information and communication tools and =
technologies<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Through the work of Dimitra&#8217;s
partner organisations, and during many of the workshops and discussions =
to
which the project has participated, it has often been suggested that one
effective way to reach rural populations is by combining modern and =
traditional
information and communication tools. There is no one recipe for success =
and
appropriate methods need to be used according to the context, in order =
to reach
grassroots populations and make their voices =
heard.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>While <span class=3DSpellE>ICTs</span> can =
help reduce
the isolation of women and rural communities by increasing their =
visibility and
creating more opportunities to participate in networks, many obstacles =
remain
to accessing and using <span class=3DSpellE>ICTs</span> in poor =
countries, in rural
areas and for rural women in particular (problems of language, content,
infrastructure, cost, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

During a Dimitra partners workshop in October =
2002, some
examples of popular and combined ways to involve and reach out to rural
populations included rural radio, traditional methods (e. g. griots, public criers, song, dance, drama), =
awareness-raising
campaigns (in particular sensitisation of traditional/religious =
community
leaders), and formal and informal networking. =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

A successful example of how modern and =
traditional
information and communication tools and methods can be combined was =
presented
at the Know-How conference in July 2002 in =
<st1:place><st1:City>Kampala</st1:City>, =
<st1:country-region>Uganda</st1:country-region></st1:place>. A
CD-ROM for rural women on income-generating activities was translated =
into luganda (one of the
national languages of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Uganda</st1:place></st1:country-region>) and used sound and pictures to break through the =
illiteracy and &#8216;techno-phobia&#8217;
barrier. The CD-ROM was brought from village to village and demonstrated =
to the
local women using a portable computer powered by a car battery.&nbsp; This initiative proved very =
successful
and subsequently motivated many women to take action to improve their
circumstances.&nbsp; One =
important impact
of this initiative was that it brought women together to exchange their
experiences and share their problems.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

We would be very interested to hear of any =
similar
initiatives combining traditional and modern technologies. =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>The Dimitra team<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
lang=3DEN-GB
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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