Computer Literacy Project | Global Junior Challenge

Increasing awareness of the role of Information Communication Technology in the Cambodia’s Poorest Communities.

1. Project summary

Summary:

The mission of SSF’s computer Literacy Project can be summed up as, “increasing awareness of the role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the Cambodia’s Poorest Communities.” By giving children from poor rural backgrounds increased access to computers and information technology, SSF has sought to reduce the discrepancy between the quality of education between rural and city students. Lack of computer proficiency is one of the main problems that prevent rural children from being able to attend college, where computer skills are a must. The fear is that at children from poor rural backgrounds will fall too far behind to catch up to students with access to higher quality education, effectively barring them from the chance to ever attend and graduate from college. SSF’s Computer Literacy Project was established in early 2008 with partial funding from the Riverkids. At the projects onset, one class was set up twice a week to allow supported children the chance to learn how to use computers. The first step was to teach the children how to use Windows XP, the operating system used in the majority of Cambodia’s businesses and universities. Because most of the children lack a high enough level of English proficiency to type in English, the next step was teaching them how to use Khmer Unicode and Khmer Limon typing methods that allow them to use their native language on and off line. After learning the most basic of computer skills, the curriculum expanded to teach children how to use Microsoft Office, including training in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook, Publisher and Visio. However, overwhelming demand from participating students and the lack of sufficient computers in addition to the need for a dedicated volunteer willing to teach the classes has thus far prevented the program from achieving all of its goals. This year, SSF is seeking to find donors willing to sponsor its computer literacy project. SSF currently has 4 old computers; a number the organization seeks to increase by fifteen in order to better meet the needs of the participating students. In total, the projected cost of creating a new computer lab and hiring a teacher for one year will be 8,400 Dollars. Although significant progress has been made, a lot still needs to be done if we are to succeed in reducing the computer literacy gap between Cambodia’s cities and poorer rural communities. By receiving computer skills training, they will increase their chances of obtaining better paid, safe and long term jobs. Even having just one family member who is able to secure an adequate monthly salary is an immense help in relieving the most difficult aspects of living in poverty that lead some families to feel the need to sell their sons and daughters into exploitative situations.

2. Country (City / Region)

State:

Cambodia

City:

Kampong Speu

3. Company/organization/institute presenting the project

Organization:

Sao Sary Foundation

4. Type of organization

Select type:

Other

Other:

Non-Profit organization

5. Project coordinator

Name and Surname:

Vichetr Uon

E-Mail:

vichetr@ssfcambodia.org

6. Website

The website of the project:

http://www.ssfcambodia.org

7. Please select the category in which you candidate your project

Youth Education Project. Select Project Users by age:

Up to 29 years

Helping youth step in the job market:

Helping youth step in the job market

Creativity and Social Innovation:

Creativity and Social Innovation

8. How long has your project been running?

From:

01/09/2008

9. Targets and Elements of Innovation

Please explain the targets and the background of your project:

After almost 30 years of devastating war in Cambodia, the Royal Government of Cambodia is trying to develop its human resources in order to reconstruct the country and integrate it into the regional and global community.

The current stage of development of education is still at an early stage compared with its neighbours. The government and international community are working together to achieve the education for all goals by 2015 and the government recognizes that ICT is crucial for achieving not only these goals but also in enabling freedom of expression and communication. It is expected that use of ICT will also encourage a culture of self-learning and lifelong learning.

The term ICT as used in Cambodia encompasses computer technology, computer networks, internet and email and also radio and television.

With the many obstacles Cambodia needs to overcome in order to provide quality education for all, it may seem that ICT should be low on its list of priorities. On the other hand, unless action is taken soon, the country will fall further behind its neighbours and its young people will lack the skills they need for life in the digital age. Using ICT can help teachers move towards student centred teaching and learning.

What does it try to achieve and how:

According to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations readiness Assessment conducted in 2001, Cambodia ranked eighth out of the 10 ASEAN countries in terms of e-infrastructure, e-society, e-commerce and e-government, characterised by the need to build basic ICT infrastructure and ICT literate workforce.

Public access to computers and the internet are limited. An increasing number of internet cafes have appeared in recent years in urban centres and tourist destinations. There are currently over 100 in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanouk province. Computer courses are popular in the major towns.

However, with more than 80 per cent of the population living in rural areas, the majority has little or no access to the computers or the internet. The rural people rely heavily on radio and television for information.

According to the International Telecommunications Union, as of 2002 Cambodia has the lowest internet penetration in Southeast Asia and the highest inter prices.

Cambodia has 698 secondary schools, only 13 per cent is connected to electricity, 8 per cent have generators and 4 per cent have solar panels. 75 per cent have no power supply at all, EMIS Centre, Department of Planning, MoEYS 2000-2004.

Very few state schools have computers. Only 6 per cent of lower secondary schools and 35 per cent of upper-secondary schools have between 1 and 2 computers for administrative purpose. Only 8 upper-secondary schools have more than 10 computers. In addition to public schools, there are many private schools, many offering computer classes.

Which opportunities/problems does it address to:

Although significant progress has been made, a lot still needs to be done if we are to succeed in reducing the computer literacy gap between Cambodia’s cities and poorer rural communities. By receiving computer skills training, intended students will increase their chances of obtaining better paid, safe and long term jobs. Even having just one family member who is able to secure an adequate monthly salary is an immense help in relieving the most difficult aspects of living in poverty that lead some families to feel the need to sell their sons and daughters into exploitative situations.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

In Kampong Speu provincial town has only SSF provides computer education to poorest and vulnerable children with free of charge.

10. Results

Describe the results of your project as per today:

At least 30 students (75% are underage girls) who come from poorest and the most vulnerable families in urban and rural remote areas of Chba Morn and Samrong Tong districts of Kampong Speu province attend computer class a day. Thos students learn very hard and they face difficulty in learning as they need to wait their classmates as we have just four desktop computers and sometime few amongst weren’t functions and etc. Those students were divided as groups and several hours a day were scheduled.

How does it fulfill the users’ needs:

Even though SSF has just several computers but those students have high commitment and willing to study the computer technology as we introduce. Those students will not able to attend computer class with other private schools as their parents couldn’t effort in paying them the monthly school fee even a little charge likes $5 per month while they live under poverty line with daily earn less than $1.

How many users interact with your project per month and what are the preferred forms of interaction:

Every month, SSF has at least 50 students from poorest and the most vulnerable families to attend computer class. About 100 more students in the province seek our assistance also but those were rejected since we don’t have enough computer facilities. Those intended and existing students enjoy studying basic computer to speed up their typing speed, how to use Microsoft office and internet and email.

How has it improved the quality of educational and/or training services:

How has it improved the participation of professionals, children, youth and other stakeholders:

Children from poorest and the most vulnerable families will able to attend computer education free of charge then their parents will never worried about their children’s education than just concentration on generating income for their domestic consumptions.

How does it promote the use of ICT for the educational and cultural development by professionals, children and youth:

This project is aiming at bringing equal ICT education among rural and city children to ensure they can catch up higher education properly.

Describe how you measure (parameters) these results:

Conduct monthly test and course examination to ensure those attended children can pass their course or to know which point we should improve our teaching methodology.

11. Sustainability

What is the full duration of your project:

Less than 1 year

What is the approximate total budget for your project (in USD):

Less than 10.000

What is the source of funding for your project:

Grants

Is your project economically self sufficient now:

12. Transferability

Has your project been replicated/adapted elsewhere:

Specify:

What lessons can others learn from your project:

To make equal education between students in rural remote areas and city, The ICT project in Cambodia has to expand and charge free to ensure children come from poorest and the most vulnerable families who earn income less than $1 per day to attend. With practical of view those enrolled students in computer class they have willing to study at state school and they can convince their parents to maintain them in school than children haven’t access.

We are available to help others starting or working on similar projects:

We are available to help others starting or working on similar projects.

13. Background information

Background:

SSF established in late 2006 and we work to help poorest and the most vulnerable families to care for mainly their underage girls from all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse against, including commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, labour and marriage. In the year, in Kampong Speu provincial town where we located there is no any internet café or computer teaching schools where even children from medium or rich families to learn. Children from medium or rich families can go to study computer in Phnom Penh city which is far from their hometown about 45KM while children from poorest and the most vulnerable families couldn’t do as their families couldn’t effort paying school fee.

In 2007, with financial support from Riverkids and Global Colors, SSF was possible to select about 100 at-risk and vulnerable children to benefit through the Project. Our supported children suggested us to open computer class for them to study computer as when they go to school their classmates shared the advantage of using computer. SSF with generous donation from several friends we have five used desktop computers and the computer class was begun since then.

Barriers:

Number of children interest to study computer are increased day by day while SSF doesn’t have enough computers to open with free of charge for those poorest and vulnerable children. So far we received almost 100 children to request computer class at us.

Solutions:

If award is given to SSF then SSF will able to buy at least 15 new desktop computers to open computer class in Kampong province for children who are living in poorest and the most vulnerable families.

Future plans and wish list:

Setup computers lab for providing free of charge computer education to children from poorest and the most vulnerable families
Provide free of charge computer education to those children
Teach those children about; performing basic operations, Word Processing, Electronic Mail, Use the Internet, Use a spreadsheet, Create and use a database, Create/use PowerPoint, and Printing of a document.

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