Bridging The Digital Divide
Francis Abayomi is the current coordinator for RESPECT Nigeria and has been working selflessly for refugee communities in the area. One of the current projects he and other volunteers are working on diligently, is getting computers to various centers in Nigeria in order to bridge the digital divide in these communities. This computer education program will provide both youth and adults with internet and computer literacy skills. Here is an interview with Francis discussing the program in more detail.
Meesa: What are the main benefits if the refugee community receiving ten computers?
Francis: One of the main benefits if the refugee community receives the computers is that it will ensure that computers play a role as an empowerment tool. This is important in addressing the gaps in the digital divide. This relates to gender, youth, rural and urban, and disadvantaged groups, etc. such as the refugee community we have here, and as a literacy tool for refugee users. Another major benefit is that it will enhance and encourage human resource development in information and communication technologies (ICT) and to use ICT for enhancing the learning process (e-training, e-learning, and virtual university).
Meesa: You mentioned that this program will fulfill a part of the United Nation's (UN) Millennium Development Goals for 2015. How exactly will this program do that?
Francis: Exactly, part of the UN's Millennium Goals for 2015 is to empower youth through education. This includes improving the level of basic education, skill training, literacy, and information and communication technologies among youths. So by participating in this program, RESPECT Nigeria will have fulfilled a part of the UN's Millennium Goals before 2015.
Meesa: How will you get the computers into the communities and where will you house them?
Francis: We are getting the computer through our application to the World Computer Exchange (WCE) program. We are sure to get a place if not at the refugee camp, it will be very close to the camp for easy access of refugees.
Meesa: What is the age range of refugee students that would be participating in this computer program?
Francis: The range of students that will be participating is between the ages of 15-38 years; generally youths. We would also encourage female participation.
Meesa: What are some of the ways in which people from around the world are helping with this effort?
Francis: People from around the world are helping with this effort and they are doing this through volunteering. I will love to mention a few names here, lovely Meesa (a volunteer with RESPECT international), Marc Schaeffer, RESPECT's International Coordinator and Timothy (World Computer Exchange program).
Meesa: What kind of opportunities will this computer education offer refugee students?
Francis: The opportunities of this computer education are that it would offer students youth empowerment, the communication gap between them and the outside world will be greatly reduced to minimum in other words. It will also improve the livelihoods of the young people and to optimize its contribution to the development of the economy by ensuring the availability of efficient, reliable and affordable info-communication services throughout the world, etc.