Internet Training (3 full days)

Keywords: digital divide, world wide web, connectivity, hands on experience

“The Internet for everyone”

The aim of the Internet training was to provide computer training, both for beginners and more experienced users. It offered participants from developing countries decent background information about the World Wide Web and enabled them to acquire several practical skills. A three day programme, with both theoretical and practical sessions, was provided.

The Internet has become one of the essential tools for most sectors of society. However its growing importance in everyday life and in all areas of activity has not been followed by widespread access to the Internet in developing and least developed countries. Their NGOs are seriously disadvantaged by inadequate access. To reduce an increasing digital divide in developing countries goals such as literacy and access to technology, have to be met first.

This World Civil Society Forum internet training brought together NGO people from developing countries with trainers from ISOC-DevSig (Internet Society’s Special Interest Group on developing countries) and the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association).

The participants were divided into beginners and advanced. A general introduction was given on “How the Internet works” and “Who’s watching the Internet”. The advanced level then went into the ITU computer rooms for a session on connectivity. The beginners stayed in the conference room for a second introduction to the internet and its possible use for their organization. The beginners group continued the next day with a whole day of ‘hands on’ experience. People who had never used a computer before had an individual trainer and machine for their first steps. The second day for the advanced level consisted of three main themes:

1. Using the Internet in your organization: making the most of the power of the internet.
2. Defining a communication strategy.
3. Using, creating and managing internet discussion lists, followed by a practical session on internet discussion lists.

On the third day both groups attended a presentation on optimising internet access,

e-commerce and webcasting. The afternoon provided Question and Answer time for the beginners. However, some of them were even able to join the advanced level back in the PC-rooms to learn how to build websites. After a theoretical introduction on the 5 Cs of web design: Content, Continuity, Cut to the chase, Context, Community, the participants were given a practical session on web design, content organization, web techniques and web media. At the end of the three days’ training, participants were offered a visit to CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research). After a presentation on how the web was born at CERN, they were taken to visit several sites.

All the participants could apply for a free computer (CPU) configured with LINUX, to be collected at the end of the training, with a document for the Customs, certifying that it was a gift. In six months the participants will be asked to write a report reviewing the use of this CPU in their organization.

In conclusion, the feedback from participants assured the organisers that there is a great need for access to the internet and technical training in developing countries. Civil society also benefits greatly from tips and guidelines on the use of the Internet. Knowledge about communication strategy and communication privacy is as important as actual technical skills. The advantages of organising the training in Geneva were not only the availability of many different trainers, but also the excellent infrastructure of the ITU that enabled the participants to fully explore all the Internet applications.

Chair

Rosa Delgado (DevSig & Internet Society)

Coordination

Jeroen Van Hove (Mandat International)

Trainers

• Carole Pina (DevSig & Young Women's Christian Association)
• Chilemwa Nkowane (Young Women's Christian Association)
• Craig Duncan (DevSig & UN)
• Elaine Carlson (DevSig & Young Women's Christian Association)
• Emmert Clevenstine (DevSig & ILO)
• Gideon Hayford Chonia (DevSig & University of Zurich)
• Ibrahima Keita (DevSig & United Nations Institute for Training and Research)
• Jean Claude Mporamazina (DevSig & UNCTAD)
• Jeroen Van Hove (Mandat International)
• Joan Dzenowagis (DevSig & World Health Organization)
• Juliate Malakar (Young Women's Christian Association)
• Massimiliano Desuma (Mandat International)
• Natallia Aleksandrovich (Young Women's Christian Association)
• Njoroge Njuguna (DevSig & Young Women's Christian Association)
• Pape Diouf (Graduate Institute for Development Studies)
• Paul Berdah (G@el - Genève Associative en Ligne)
• Philippe D. Monnier (DevSig & Eureka Cybertraiding SA)
• Pierre-André Rion (DevSig & Internet Society)
• Rosa Delgado (DevSig & Internet Society)
• Roselle Dalzine (Young Women's Christian Association)
• Silvano De Gennaro (CERN)
• Soraya Ordonez (Université de Genève)
• Stéphane Koch (DevSig & Internet Society)
• Thomas Murray (Young Women's Christian Association)
• Yoshiko Kurisaki (DevSig & Pacific Telecommunications Council)