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[Rural GHANA] Models for Computer Literacy Program..??[LONG]
CR Washington (crw@LOOP.COM)
Mon, 27 May 1996 16:49:00 -0700
UPDATE
RE: Computer Literacy Program
Ghana, West Africa
Hello...
We hope that some of you may have ideas about possible general resources
(persons whom we might do well to contact or sites that may have useful
information) on the subject of Computer Literacy.
Our specific focus is on Ghana, West Africa.
This feedback might help with a general proposal and project description
that Dr. Osei Darkwa (on the faculty at the University of Illinois-Chicago)
and I are in the process of researching and writing.
Please cc: your response to Dr. Darkwa: darkwa@tigger.cc.uic.edu
We are preparing to try and seek funding for the Computer Literacy Program
in Ghana.
We have scoured the WEB using various search engines but have managed to dig
up only a sparse amount of material that may be useful to this effort (an
example being the discussion we found on the LEAP Reading Literacy program
in Mississippi).
Please point us to any related proposals or project descriptions, on-line or
not, or send us a note about anything else you feel may be helpful.
We would be MOST grateful. It would be a great assist to look over related
material.
Since no Computer Literacy program exists in Ghana beyond some sporadidc
efforts by the Government, and since the need (based on preliminary
assessment in the private and public sectors) is great, we hope in time to
move this program to the national level in Ghana....and more, we hope that
it will serve as an example for similar efforts in other African nations.
We are especially happy that a highly regarded non-governmental organization
of volunteers in Ghana, VOLU, is serving as the vehicle for the Computer
Literacy program. This is a major advantage because VOLU has its tentacles
in remote rural communities and swelling urban areas alike, and has
maintained good rapport with the diverse segments/elements of Ghanaian society.
We are realists, and know there are many hurdles yet to be surmounted.
Any model proposals or project descriptions that you could point us to would
be useful.
Any ideas of where we might find funding, would be appreciated.
Also, there is a need to find donated computer equipment (from XTs to 586s,
from Macs to PowerPCs, in good condition), for which we are able to give
receipts for tax purposes under the IRS 501(C)(3) classification of New
York-based co-sponsor Operation Crossroads Africa, Inc.
Crossroads will be able to help transport a limited amount of donated
equipment to Ghana when their volunteers depart New York City in about a month.
We need to get donated equipment sent to their address before departure in
late June:
c/o LaVerne Brown
Operation Crossroads Africa
475-Riverside Drive
NY, NY 10115
phone: 212-870-2106; E-Mail: ocainc@aol.com
Kind regards,
Cecil Washington
UC Berkeley
E-Mail: crw@loop.com
Phone/FAX: 310-632-1582
3697-1/2 Platt Ave.
Lynwood, CA 90262-3641
-------------------------------
Please cc: your response to
Dr. Osei Darkwa (Director, Computer Literacy-Ghana)
darkwa@tigger.cc.uic.edu
Office: (312) 996-8508
Home number: (708) 848-7054
FAX (312) 996-2770
Address: 621 S. Maple
Oak Park, IL 60304
====================================================================
COMPUTER LITERACY
Computer Literacy Defined
Computer literacy is defined as that level of knowledge and understanding of
the personal computer, desk-top or lap-top, beyond the mere utilization of
word processing software. Word processing utilization might be considered as
beginning computer literacy. Beyond that, for intermediate and advanced
computer literacy, one should (1) be comfortable with installing and
configuring common software, (2) be familiar and use regularly a computer
modem, (3) be able to access a computer bulletin board or on-line service,
(4) be able to send and receive messages via electronic mail (e-mail), (5)
be able to upload and download computer files with ease and (6) be able to
print from the computer.
=======================================================================
UPDATE ON CONNECTIVITY IN GHANA:
I.
Gideon Hayford Chonia (University Of Zurich; GhanaNet)k042240@rzu.unizh.ch
gideon@osagyefo.ghana.net, writes:
A project Ghana SchoolNET has been initiated with the Ghana Education Service.
To have more insight of this project, browse through our WEB:
http://rzunextbet1.unizh.ch/index.html/
...We are building a computing center at Kokomlemle, where repairs and
courses will be given.
We are networking 50 School together by the end of March 1996 as a pilot
installation to E-mail system only.
Full Internet access will be by the end of the year.....
We are still buying the neccessary networking equipments to connect to NCS
in Ghana.
I just sent 18 SUNSParc 1+ unix computers for our Academic Computing Center.
***********************************
II.
Bill (Wilfred Owen, Jr.)wowen@reston.aau.org, observes:
Things are moving fast in Ghana and there could be a 128kps VSAT
uplink in Accra as early as April - funded by the African Internet
Forum (IBRD, UNDP, CIDA, USAID and others): implication: full
connectivity in rural Ghana at subsidized rates - at least where there
is a digital automatic exchange and decent outside plant. [After 10
days of data transmission here, I am worried about the very slow
transmission rates. US Embassy asked me to inquire about amplified
drop line to the "info store."(?). Unfortunately, Ghana Telecom here
is just not yet familiar with data transmission.] So Ghana in June
1996 may be a bit different than Ghana today and computer fever will
be spreading by then.
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