Nashon TAdo
NRC in partnership with UNHCR, Microsoft and HP has launched a project on access to technology in education for communities in Dadaab. The project aims to bring innovative solutions to address challenges faced in education in the refugee camps through the use of technology.
More than 100 participants attended the launch. Members of both the refugee and host communities who are benefiting from NRC’s Youth Education Pack (YEP) project came together to celebrate the occasion together with relief agencies including CARE, Handicap International, Islamic Relief Kenya, Lutheran World Foundation and Windle Trust.
Prior to the launch, the team visited the Youth Education Centre in Dagahaley for a two-hour ceremony hosted by NRC. The celebration was opened by Dr. Marangu Njogu, Country Director of Windle Trust Kenya. He reiterated the value of education for refugees and the importance of supporting new innovations that provide meaningful solutions to challenges faced by refugees. “The CTA Project is transforming education in Dadaab”, he said.
Some of the students interviewed by NRC during the launch expressed their optimism about the project and highlighted their contribution in the project design through activities such as making leather covers to protect computers from dust and humidity.
To demonstrate some of the system’s networking functionalities, a Skype connection call was made to Geneva’s UNHCR Innovation’s Operations Officer and participants were able to engage in a real-time interaction with him. He expressed support and excitement about the project and listened to views shared by the students attending the launch.
“Access to ICT helps populations everywhere, including those in difficult circumstances to obtain vital skills that they need to build new futures for themselves”, notes Jeffery Avina, Microsoft’s Director of Citizenship and Community Affairs for Middle East and Africa.
“This partnership has empowered the youth to imagine and realize their full potential by connecting them to greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship in line with the recently launched Microsoft-4-Afrika initiative. Through this partnership, Microsoft will actively engage in Africa’s economic development to improve its global competitiveness”, says Avina.
The Technology in Education Project was initiated in 2012 and targets three main areas for improvement: formal education, vocational training and community e-learning. 32 computers have been distributed to primary schools in 2013, to help teachers maintain student enrolment and performance standards. Computer laboratories have also been set up in secondary schools, equipped with 20 workstations each to all for teaching of computer studies and more than 145 students have enrolled for information technology classes.