In an effort to close the technological divide between the developed world and Third World countries, the United Nations Information Technology Services (UNITeS) has been sending out IT experts to countries from Benin to Tanzania. One such operative, Sean Osner, recently set up a community center in a Bedouin village with 10 Intel 486 computers and five Pentium III's. And while it might seem that a nomadic shepherd would have no need for the internet, it can help locals get better education and medical care. It may help with business too; as Osner points out, "One of the things we designed the community center for was to help the local women find markets in other parts of the world for their products. That would keep those traditions alive in their community."
'The UNITeS program aims to play a key role in helping businesses in developing countries exploit the opportunities afforded by the internet, but it is also aimed at teaching people how to use computers, not just at putting computer systems in place'
The UNITeS program, with volunteers co-ordinated by United Nations Volunteers (UNV), aims to play a key role in helping businesses in developing countries exploit the opportunities afforded by the internet, but it is also aimed at teaching people how to use computers not just at putting computer systems in place. This could also help reduce the shortage of IT-skilled people in such countries, which is a major hurdle to their involvement in the digital revolution. And the demand is undoubtedly there; in a recent visit to Zagazig in Egypt, Osner was faced with 4000 people, allwaiting for a chance to use one of four computer terminals. Those who did get the chance learned how to do word processing, to e-mail, to search the internet, and to set up their own e-commerce sites. But, as Osner says, "There is an overwhelming demand that we can't possibly fill."
Up to October 2000, 23 volunteers had gone on assignments in countries including Burundi, Ecuador and India. More are planned, and funding from computer companies eager to exploit an untapped market will help the scheme to widen its reach.
For more information, see the UNITeS website
See also www.peacecorps.gov
Summarised from an article by Maria Trombly, entitled 'Volunteer Brings Computers to the Bedouin', in Computerworld (16th October 2000). Monitored for the Institute by Roger Knights.
For a related article in the Global Ideas Bank concerning computer literacy in the Third World, see Self-taught computer literacy for kids in Delhi slum
IT professionals continue to volunteer as need grows Summarised from an article entitled "Volunteers get a career boost," by Mark Hall in ComputerWorld (September 22, 2003). Monitored for the Global Ideas Bank by Roger Knights.
IT volunteers get more than just recognition for their work and skills, they get the chance to help underdeveloped countries.
But in a recent case at an elementary school in Columbus, Ohio, Eve Brashaw, who is on her fourth year at Tech Corps in Mass., helped young girls learn how to love technology too.
She, along with the Ohio State University (OSU) Women in Technology group, was concerned by the trend of young girls (fourth and fifth grades) who were uninterested in science, computers, and technology. The results were fantastic, with an "infectious" result, and the girls learned all about PCs and software.
Other companies such as Geek Corp, a division of International Executive Service Corps, and Gateway, Inc. in Calif. have also been placing IT volunteers around the world, with averages of three to four hours per month by their volunteers. Technology recruiter Robert Mork at Mason Concepts Agency in L.A. also agrees that volunteer work not only benefits others, but the volunteer experience itself has a cutting edge when entering the workforce.
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