[UgaBYTES] Are telecentres simply big dreams of science?

Fri Aug 8 11:57:28 GMT 2008

Dear All,

Let me support Peter Burgess on the importance of the matrix of performance-cost spent v/s value achieved. In addtion to this is also how we make use of the success we get. We have the radios, mobile phones ... are they fully utilized or our focus is only on the new developments/improvemnts?

Ncheye

Manager
Sengerema Multipurpose Community Telecentre
P.O.BOX.399 Sengerema-Mwanza Tanzania
E-mail:ncheyefb at yahoo.com
Cell:+255 784 799630
Tel: +255 28 2590146
Web: www.Sengerema.or.tz

--- On Thu, 8/7/08, Peter Burgess <peterbnyc at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Peter Burgess <peterbnyc at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [UgaBYTES] Are telecentres simply big dreams of science?
To: ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2008, 2:40 PM

Dear Colleagues

I really liked the message written by Betty Iyamuremye ... as others
have observed, it took you into the telecentre and gave a really good
idea about what was going on. Congratulations to all concerned.

What are the lessons? I would be very interested to learn from people
who know the story what lessons should be learned. I have the
impression that the situation today is more positive than it was, say
four years ago. What has changed?

I have a continuing issue with cost effectiveness ... How much was
spent? What is the value of what has been done?

These two essential metrics of performance are very difficult to
obtain almost everywhere in the relief and development industry. In
many cases this is because the costs are high and the value adding is
tiny. But I have also found that quite often the reason for poor
performance is because costs were cut before the issues constraining
performance were resolved. In the case of Nakaseke ... the key
supporters seemed to keep on going ... and for that ... thanks.

Many of you know Tr-Ac-Net is engaged in the development of Community
Accountancy ... please find out more about this ... and how everyone
can become involved with it.

Sincerely

Peter Burgess
____________
Peter Burgess
The Transparency and Accountability Network: Tr-Ac-Net in New York
www.tr-ac-net.org
Community Accountancy
Integrated Malaria Management Consortium (IMMC)
917 432 1191 or 212 772 6918 peterbnyc at gmail.com

On Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 9:45 AM, Meddie Mayanja <mmayanja at idrc.ca> wrote:
>
> Whats a great article - it took me right into the telecentre and helped
> throw more light on how Nakaseke telecentre is used in everyday life.
> Looking back, I feel this telecentre has really come of age and provides
us
> with a lot of lessons.
>
> Thanks, Betty
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org
> [mailto:ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org] On Behalf Of Betty Iyamuremye
> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 5:05 AM
> To: ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
> Subject: [UgaBYTES] Are telecentres simply big dreams of science?
>
> It's a hot afternoon as I approach Nakaseke sub-county headquarters in
> Nakaseke District, Uganda. This is the location of a telecentre that has
> come to play a very vital role in the lives of the local community.
>
> "You are most welcome", a gentleman reading a newspapers grins
as he ushers
> me into the big building. Inside are several clean and neatly arranged
> computers. A door to the right is illuminated with a label: 'ON
AIR',
> implying that broadcasting is done in there.
>
> My urge to enter the studio is interrupted when my colleague suggests that
> we go to the business centre that is on the left, instead. Apparently she
> had sighted James Senabulya, the programme manager and IT trainer at the
> centre.
>
> Nakaseke Multipurpose Community Telecentre is part of a series of pilot
> initiatives to introduce, test, disseminate, and assess the impact and
> viability of multipurpose community telecentres (MCT) in Africa.
> Senabulya says this telecentre is within the framework of the Africa
> Information Society Initiative (AISI) and in line with the Buenos Aires
> Action Plan (BAAP) Programme No. 9 on Integrated Rural Development.
>
> In late 1990s, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UNESCO
and
> IDRC agreed to join efforts with national and local organisations to plan
> and support pilot telecentres.
>
> The phrase 'telecentre' is usually associated with rows of
computers and
> telephones assembled in an area for communal use. However, a telecentre is
> usually more than that. At Nakaseke telecentre, there are 16 community
> satellite telecentres (CSTs) in all parishes of Kasangombe and Nakaseke
> sub-counties. These centres are run by elected parish media committees
with
> voluntary resident administrative assistants who provide miniature
> telecentre activities.
>
> These were established to take MCT services nearer to remote areas as well
> as operate as feedback mechanism on information and communication needs of
> these communities.
>
> But are these telecentres simply big dreams of science without real
> practical use for the ordinary men and women in the villages?
>
> Well, to Ruth Nakanwagi, this telecentre is a dream come true. Nakanwagi
is
> an instructor at Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA), a
> non-governmental organisation under Functional Adult Literacy (FAL).
>
> "As an instructor, I have utilized facilities at this telecentre but
most
> importantly, the community radio," Nakanwagi says.
>
> In March 2008, this telecentre received a World Space Satellite Radio
> (WSSR) from UNESCO that has not only helped the programme manager to boost
> content but also helped the community to access information on
agricultural
> practices, HIV/AIDS, sanitation issues, gender related issues, and
> environment among others.
>
> WSSR broadcasts 50 channels from which Nakaseke FM (102.9) is able to tap
> international news, days' events, etc. We re-broadcast BBC news direct
from
> WSSR, Senabulya says. He adds that since there is no other English
programme
> on this radio, BBC news has enormous listenership. "For those who do
not
> know English, we translate information into Luganda so as to assist the
> illiterate," he adds.
> It is not only the ITC that has found favour in the hearts of the Nakaseke
> community but the book library is very much loved too especially by
students
> in surrounding schools.
>
> "I visit this library on a daily basis. After school, I always fix
time to
> come here at least for an hour so that I read a book. I love reading
> stories," says Nankanjja Daphine, a primary five pupil at Nakaseke
Public
> School. Adding: "I make sure I am at home by 6:00 pm, and so, I
usually
> optimally utilize the little time I have while at the centre."
>
> In addition to books on diverse subjects, the library also has 11 radio
> cassette recorders along with audio-cassettes on general topics like world
> peace, conflict, culture and tradition; all recorded in the local language
> and are double decked to allow local content production and dubbing.
>
> The users at the business unit which comprise of the telephone and
> secretarial services dominate the centre during morning hours and
according
> to Senabulya, telephone services is currently the biggest income earner
for
> the centre.
> Having acquired a new Amper licea 2000 machine, the telecentre has managed
> to have a stronger internet and telephone connection. Other facilities at
> the business unit include fax, education videos, and photocopiers among
> others.
>
> In the afternoons, computer and internet users visit the centre. The MCT
> runs a computer-applications training program in both primary and
secondary
> schools, for students on holiday, at the Primary Teachers College (PTC)
> nearby, and for the general public. Recently, a primary-school focused
> mathematics computer based programme was introduced.
>
> "The centre is relatively cheap and convenient. After work, many
people are
> able to visit the centre for IT application." says Senabulya.
> He however says, electricity was the most challenging resource to sustain
> but in 2005, IDRC donated a 24-panel solar energy equipment worth USHS 100
> million. This he says has reduced powers cuts that used to disrupt
services
> at the centre.
>
> In a bid to improve internet services at the centre, ministry of
information
> in partnership with MTN Uganda are soon extending wireless internet
> connection to Nakaseke, targeting the telecentre as a server.
> After implementation of this proposal that was made by ITU, the wireless
> connection is expected to supply Nakaseke Hospital, Nakaseke sub county
> offices, Nakaseke International College, Mazolid College and monastery.
>
> Telecentres in Africa
> In Africa and elsewhere, public facilities are needed for basic access,
and
> for value-added services that can contribute to the social and economic
> welfare of the community.
> With ICT taking a firm hold on the world, and support from organizations
> such as UNESCO, ITU, IDRC and a number of other international development
> agencies, the concept has quickly spread across Africa.
>
>
> Sustainability is most challenging in telecentre movement. Without donor
> funding, most telecentre have closed shop. Most times, telecentres always
> fail to plan or run self-sustaining projects to survive. The challenges
> should not only be addressed by the international funders but also the
users
> and local organisations.
>
> Other model telecentres in Uganda include Kacwekano in Kabale, Nabweru in
> Kampala district, Buwama in Mpigi district. There are, however, other
> telecentres with usually a single phone line (possibly GSM cellular),
> three-in-one scanner/printer/copier, a fax machine and a PC with a
printer,
> Internet such as Kubere Information Centre in Apac, Buganda Telecentre
among
> others.
>
> Be as it may, Nakaseke telecentre is a one of the success story of the
> telecentre movement in Africa and the world at large. How it pans out in
the
> coming years will point to the full entry of ordinary Africans into the
ICT
> era.
>
>
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