eRiding in Malawi
The Young Advocates for the Advancement of ICT-related Development would be joining the band wagon of eRiders in the Southern Africa courtesy of a partnership with Ungana-Afrika. Ungana-Afrika represented by Tshepo Thlaku and accompanied by Kiko Mapunda from OSISA visited Y.A.A.ICT-D on Tuesday 29th May 2007. Through this partnership Ungana-Afrika would provide strategic support to Y.A.A.ICT-D so that the eRiding model takes off the ground in Malawi.
In a related development Ungana-Afrika hosted an Incubation of ICT Capacity Development Workshop in Lilongwe, Malawi from 26-27 June 2007 at Korea Garden. The workshop attracted participants from NGOs, Public & Private sector as well as OSISA who are funders of the workshop. Full details of the workshop will be available soon.
Parliament outside Parliament (P.o.P.)
Y.A.A.ICT-D is currently implementing the Parliament outside Parliament project under the good auspices of the United States (US) Embassy in Malawi through the Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF). The project is targeting three districts in the central region namely, Dowa, Mchinji, and Kasungu. Among the project's activities is a weekly radio program on Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS).
The project is aimed at giving Malawians at the grassroots level with spaces to air out their views. This is in line with our flagship belief that ICTs do promote freedom of speech and that they are vehicles for achieving social justice through the empowerment of disenfranchised groups of people in society.
World Computer Exchange (WCE) Computer Donation
Y.A.A.ICT-D was accepted a a partner of WCE on 24 June 2006. World Computer Exchange (WCE) is a charity that sources computer from well wishers from Canada and USA and refurbishes them and donates them to school and centers in the developing world. At the meantime a consignment of 180 computers is awaiting shipment from WCE in Massachusetts to Lilongwe, Milawi. The computer will be distributed to selected school and youth groups across Malawi with the aim of building the capacity of the youth Malawi in the use of ICTs especially the Internet so that they are connected to the global youth community but also the global pool of knowledge resources.
ICT Youth Center
Y.A.A.ICT-D in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will be launching a youth ICT training program. The program will target youth workers from rural based youth organizations. Preference, however, will be given to girls in the training programs. This deliberate move is aimed at bridging the technology acquisition divide existing between the male and female genders in Malawi.
Applications for the program will be solicited soon so, watch this space!!
Details about the eRiding project would be made available on the site as they unfold.
Contact us for more information
PoP Project Needs
Our wish is to reach out to the entire central region so that a wider cross section of citizens of Malawi can be reached. In order to achieve this, we require more financial support and technical resources.
WCE Project Needs
The cost of shipping computers from WCE and distribution of the same in Malawi is estimated at $25,000 USD.
ICT Youth Center Needs
Currently, we are faced with an acute shortage of computers to kick start the program. Donations are therefore invited of second hand PCs from well wishers to be used in the program.
For more information on these projects, additional projects, or how to partner with us, please contact us at: info@youngictadvocates.org
