ICT AND GENDER YOUTH HOLIDAY CAMP ON ICT AT ST' HENRYS KITOVU JAN 1623, 2005

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ICT AND GENDER YOUTH HOLIDAY CAMP ON ICTAT ST.
HENRYS KITOVUJAN 16-23, 2005

• ZAMZAM NASSAZI MAYANJA
• INFORMATION OFFICER
• WOUGNET

• http//www.wougnet.org

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What is ICT?

• Tools used in creation, processing, transfer and
  sharing of information
• Divided into traditional
• Drum
• Phone
• Radio
• Modern ICT
• Video, TV
• Computer, Internet/E-mail
• Fax, cell phone
• Video conferencing

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..How about Gender

• Refers to equitable opportunities for both sexes
  (girls and boys) and considering the complexities
  in each gender category
• DOES NOT mean girls alone (although most people
  think so- probably because girls are the most
  disadvantaged sex)
• DOES NOT mean simple binary (girl and boys)
  considerations as 2 large groups

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How WOUGNET gets Involved in ICT Gender

• The UN places access to ICT as the 3rd most
  important issue facing women globally, after
  poverty and violence against women.. Fatuma
  Alloo,UNESCO, Women in the Digital Age-Using
  Communication Technology for Empowerment-1998
• Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) was
  established to promote and support the use of
  ICTs by women organisations and individuals in
  Uganda as means of improving conditions of life

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WOUGNET's Involvement contd

• It should be noted that access to timely and
  relevant information is critical to any
  discipline be it Agriculture, Education,
  Commerce, Health, Tourism, etc for development
  to take place.
• WOUGNET therefore facilitates exchange and
  dissemination of information on various womens
  issues via

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WOUGNET's Involvement contd

• WOUGNET activities are carried out through...
• WOUGNET Website http//www.wougnet.org
• Administration of a Mailing list
• Publication of Newsletters
• Fax Telephone
• Workshops Seminars etc.

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Importance of ICT

• ICT have many opportunities...
• Making learning more interesting especially for
  hard-to-understand issues
• Bridging distances e.g using e-mails, phone,
  video conferencing etc.
• Breaking literacy barriers in communication e.g
  using video and radio.
• Research and useful Information sharing e.g
  using Internet

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Importance of ICT contd

• Access information on jobs/internships
• Creation of new employment opportunities (via
  ICTs/with ICTs)
• Enhance interaction with peers over long
  distances
• Create entertainment opportunities (games,
  music,video)

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Importance of ICT contd

• Provide more realistic information on life
  elsewhere
• Provide educational information (distance
  learning)
• Provide health information, including on
  sensitive issues

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Linkage between ICT and Gender checklist of
issues

• Are there any gender differences in access to
  ICT?
• How does the use of ICT affect men-boys and
  women-girls differently?
• Are both men-boys and women-girls included in ICT
  decision making?

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Linkage between ICT and Gender contd

• Information Society More information available
  than ever before for entertainment/leisure and
  development..
• HOWEVER,
• There is uneven access to
  this body of information (Digital divide),
  i.e,...

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Linkage between ICT and Gender contd

• Between countries
• Developed
• Developing
• Within countries
• Urban/rural
• Men-boys/Women-girls
• Educated/non-educated
• Rich/poor

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Linkage between ICT and Gender contd

• Major factors for the unevenness in access to ICT
  between men-boys/women-girls.
• Factors constraining girls access to information
  technology
• Literacy and education level - low for girls
  compared to boys
• Social and cultural norms, etc.
• These factors limit the ability of girls to
  search for and disseminate information for
  academic and social advancement.

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Challenges/threats of ICTs

• ICT availability (connectivity constraints, e.g
  cost)
• Access (money to spend, skills)
• Language (Internet 80 in English)
• Content (Not everything there is useful, i.e
  pornography)
• Dominance of western culture (Internet, TV/video
  etc.)

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The Main Challenge to ICT use

• Its is documented internationally and locally
  that girls and boys have different needs and
  constraints to accessing and using ICT
• IS IT TRUE In your school?
• DO GIRLS use ICTs less than boys? WHY?
• DO SOME BOYS and GIRLS use less ICT than others?
  WHY?

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ICT and Gender - Meeting the Challenge

• What strategies should we take to ensure equal
  and fair access and use for all in your school?
• Desist from dualist gender stereotype and take
  care of diversity among girls and boys
• Encourage girls to enroll more into natural and
  computer sciences
• Quotas for girls
• Develop girl-centered workspaces
• Networks of social learning
• Use project approach in learning

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THANK YOU

• info_at_wougnet.org