Rural Internet Kiosks  REMIX 

Information and communications technologies have the power to change the way we practice both business and development throughout the world. The digital divide, defined by a lack of access to information for a specific population, symbolizes the largest difference between developed and developing countries: the opportunity to obtain and utilize information. The digital divide runs much deeper than hardware and software. The real heart of the digital divide is that those without access to information resources often suffer needlessly while the solutions to their problems are floating in the air.

The Rural Internet Kiosk (RIK) is an independent self contained 100% solar powered kiosk featuring three industrial design computer terminals a manned administrator terminal, and broadband wireless Internet connectivity. RIK has been designed to help bridge the digital divide in Africa and concentrates on connecting rural areas is high percentage of the population who have no access to ICT infrastructure.

The kiosks are designed for deployment in any location in rural Africa, whether the infrastructure is in place or not. By using solar panels and satellite internet access through Astra2Connect, we are able to reach those people waiting on the other side of the digital divide.

Material poverty, poor health, low levels of sanitation, low levels of education, lack of access to government services, and lack of access to finance are the core issues found in the community. These issues are all addressed through information and communications. Information poverty is a widespread social problem throughout developing countries. The Rural Internet Kiosks provide the following development solutions: E-agriculture, E-commerce, E-health, E-government, E-banking, E-learning, Relief services, Local content creation, Skills training, Employment opportunities, Independent local media, and Knowledge diffusion from the North to the South and from the South to the North. With access to ICT and the Internet the people can determine for themselves what type of development they want to pursue in their communities.

The approach of the project is to provide access community wide for greatest impact. The project looks at the entirety of the community as stakeholders. By providing information and communications to all stakeholders rather than focusing on one segment, this project creates impact evenly throughout the entire constituency.

Community Background

Webuye constituency is a primarily agricultural community with 80% of the community engaged in farming. The population of the area is over 200,000 people with few industries since the closing of Pan Paper. Throughout the area there are small marketplaces growing to serve the needs of the people. Market areas are becoming more urbanized and urban population growth is high as has been evidenced by the growth of Webuye town. In order to develop the constituency in a sustainable way it is necessary to raise the educational levels and critical thinking skills. The poverty of the people and the lack of infrastructure such as electricity and libraries stunts their mental growth. With the additional problems such as high child malnutrition, high maternal mortality, and a lack of water resources, the constituency is in need of information empowerment.

No information and communication technology programs have been built in Webuye despite the need for information in the community. Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development (VOA4SD) began the first rural ICT project in the area in Sirisia constituency at Mbambe Rural Resource Management Programme, an agricultural community based organization, in 2006. A baseline survey was done in the community with the expected results that most of the population has not had access to ICTs with the exception of the diffusion of the mobile phone. VOA4SD has worked with a variety of organizations by delivering the necessary information for project development through Sirisia and Webuye constituencies. As an organization, we understand the area and the needs of the people. We have completed and continue to manage a successful ICT project in the area. The next step is the pilot implementation of 8 Rural Internet Kiosks.

There have been a number of studies done throughout the developing world about the impact of ICTs in development. It has been shown that ICT projects that are not owned by the community with significant buy-in often fail. This project has been designed to utilize pre-existing community based organizations in a grassroots approach to development. The partnership between Voices of Africa, House of Compassion, rural community based organizations, and PeaceCorp volunteers will ensure that concrete change is seen on the ground.

This project is unique in two ways: its focus on active participation and community leadership and the new technologies being deployed. Active community participation and community leadership is vital to  sustainable rural development. To maximize impact, the projects must be community run with the assistance of trained volunteers. Our volunteers have been specifically trained not to run the project themselves, but to work with the community to build their self sufficiency. Secondly, the new technologies such as green solar energy and affordable satellite Internet access would have been unthinkable even 2 years ago. These new technologies allow for the diffusion of ICTs in locations not previously possible such as rural Webuye.

Project Details

Goals and Objectives

 Goals

• To empower the communities in Webuye to take control of their own development through information and education
• To use the Internet as a tool for the development of the people of Webuye
• To foster mutually beneficial international relationships and bridge the digital divide
• To provide sustainable solutions to the Millennium Development Goals through ICT
• To work in collaboration with women and youth to create income generation activities

To give communities the educational tools for development in the following critical areas:

• Environmentally sustainable development
• Health
• Income generation
• Agribusiness 

Our specific goals for Agribusiness include:

• Establishment of information systems for monitoring market performance and measuring market failures
• Efficent marketing of agricultural products through information and telecommunication networks
• Provision of equitable access to new techniques for improving agricultural production

Current challenges facing farmers/producers include:

• Limited national food production to satisfy market needs because of underutilization of available resources
• Lack of information on importing from best markets on the best terms
• Lack of information on agricultural exports with the most competitive advantages
• Lack of guidance for planning of crop planting and knowledge of new methods and technologies
• Lack of access to food market information and pricing

To achieve the goal of improving the production and distribution of food and agricultural products in Africa:

• Link meterological centres with agricultural advisory services
• Provide access to international networks on food production technology and databases on food stock
• Provide access to databases of national food storage facilities

RIK will help keep farmers updated on:

• Weather changes
• Cost effective farming practices
• Getting better prices from online auctions and price guides
• Help in getting produce sold to a larger market
• Sourcing fertilizers and farm implements from various suppliers
• Advice on Live stock farming
• Advice on floriculture

Objectives

• Decrease poverty in the constituency by 35% over the next 3 years
• Decrease infant and child mortality in the constituency by 25% over the next 3 years
• Increase local employment or income generating self employment by 50% over the next 5 years
• Deliver access to ICTs and the Internet to 80% of the population within walking distance in 2 years
• Provide ICT educational services to 50% of the population at least once within 1 year
  •   75% of the population within 2 years
  •   90% of the population within 3 years

Clientle

Community Groups

Webuye has one non governmental organization, 34 community based organizations all of which are involved in the agricultural sector, and 512 youth groups, women's groups and self help groups. These groups are created by the people for their own development. After visiting over 40 groups we have seen that each one would be better able to generate income and achieve their objectives with access to communication and technology. With the Internet, these groups can create their own websites, write about their communities, ask for help, build businesses, and seek continuing education include University education.  

Group ownership of the Rural Internet Kiosk is the most effective way to serve the community as the groups are composed of the community members themselves. The groups have been formed as a way to solve problems in the community such as poverty. Members of the groups are often respected members of the community. With this respect, comes the power to be key players in the diffusion of knowledge. If the elders in a community and those with respect support the endeavor it will quickly have impact.

Women

Our research from a baseline survey of over 150 women in rural Sirisia constituency shows that very few rural women (2%) have ever touched a computer or know of the existence of the Internet (less than 1%). A full 95% of the women said that they were interested in learning new things. In the 200 women surveyed, 100% said that education was very important to their community. The three areas that the women identified as needing education were income generation, health, and agriculture.

Children

The entire system of education from young child to adult benefits from the utilization of computers with particular emphasis on the Internet. In step with that mindset, educational software from basic to advanced level as well as the most common productivity software should be widely taught with an aim of creating a computer literate community. As children learn very easily they will become teachers for the adults. If computers and the Internet are introduced in nursery and primary education, the children's skills can be on par with the developed world. This will increase the ability to gain employment and begin enterprises.

Youth

The youth population in SSA do not have the adequate access to information and education to be engaged in gainful employment. In SSA the quality of rural primary education tends to be low with few resources divided by an ever growing population. For example 60% of the population of Kenya are between the ages of 15 and 35[1]. The growing youth population comprises 61% of the unemployed population. And of the 13 million youth, only 50% are expected to be in gainful economic activities in the formal, informal & public sectors while the rest remain unemployed. Youth who would previously been employed in agriculture are finding less arable land available as families properties have been subdivided and sold. Those are are able to attain land are also in need of education to maximize their crop yield and create alternative income generation capacities to shield themselves against crop failure. With access to information and education the youth have access to opportunities.

Methods

Webuye website

            There is little tangible information on the web about the Webuye constituency. A web search returns few pertinent results and a large percentage refer to the previous Member of Parliament, Mr. Kombo. In order to increase interest and tourism, a Webuye website should be developed. Most international donors and tourists plan their actions through web searches. If there is nothing available online, then in the international arena, the location does not exist.

            Listing of schools, projects, information for tourists

            Upload content to VOA website

Mapping Webuye via Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

            Part of the website should contain maps with main roads and small roads in the villages. Local business should be put onto the web for easy location on mobile information devices such as mobile phones and Blackberry devices. This project would require volunteers/ community members to use GPS devices to capture way points and add to Internet database.

Rural Internet Kiosks for community education

            In rural villages without electricity and access to resources

            8 RIKs to begin in Webuye

                        8 partner community based organizations have been identified: one in each location of the Webuye constiuency

            Groups to use RIK as an income generation activity

                        Each RIK employs two local people

                        Groups visited expressed the need for education

            Please see RIK documentation including website www.ruralinternetkiosks.com

Available Resources

Resources include collaboration between House of Compassion, VOA4SD and other non-governmental organizations. Local government and local organizations provide members for training and volunteer hours. International universities and other development agencies will be contributing volunteers. Equipment for the Rural Internet Kiosks will be provided by Intersat Africa Ltd. 

Personnel

 As previously stated volunteers with come from implementation partners such as the US PeaceCorps. Local personnel will be recruited.

 Facilities

The Rural Internet Kiosks are self contained facilities and thus facilities are not required. 

Equipment/Supplies/Communication

All of the equipment and supplies necessary come with the Rural Internet Kiosk. 

Evaluation Plan

At the time of installation of each location a volunteer researcher will be sent to collect baseline data from the community and to engage local stakeholders in a SWOT analysis. The baseline will gather data on the socio-economic conditions of the area, the previous access to technology and the Internet, and the perceived potential usage of the Internet.

 Six months after the baseline study is performed a second study to ascertain the level of change n the community will be performed. The same socio-economic indicators will be utilized and the new skills of the community will be measured. At the end of one year a program evaluation study will be done.

The results of the evaluation study will be utilized in new physical and program design for the RIKs. The RIKs will constantly gather data about the usage of the software installed  and websites visited and will thus give us critical data on the Information needs of the people. This data will be utilized to deliver better services.