Catalyst4Change
Computer Skills for Youngsters (A pilot project in Nigeria)
The project aims to give youngsters a basic skill set in using computers. This is set to happen with fairly used or new notebooks donated by willing individuals, institutions, and companies located in Switzerland. These notebooks will be shipped to destinations, where they will be used on basic training courses. The pilot project targets the Ngodo community (see more information below).
The objective is to build a "buddy-to-buddy" ("b2b") know how transfer between youngsters in the community.
Basic IT education can bring several benefits to this community, between them:
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empower less privileged children, youth and women
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reduce urban migration
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reduce violence and contribution to peace in this society
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contribution to the local economy
THE PROJECT
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." M. Luther King
WHY THIS PROJECT?
Based on recent United Nation (UN) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data, Nigeria’s education system ranks 146th out of 148 in terms of Primary Education. Nigeria also ranks 120th in Higher Education and Training. Young people move from rural into urban areas for a better job perspective and good education. To increase chances in the job search as well as completing any further education successfully, using computers in a structured manner is of crucial importance.
The first target community of this project is the village of Ngodo, which is situated in the southeast region of Abia state of Nigeria. Ngodo is a small rural community.
A practical observation and test conducted in this rural community, indicated that a high level of youths could not switch on notebooks. Of six youths chosen randomly from a group of over twenty five, only one knew how to do the simple task of putting the computer on.