Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
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Internet Access for Distance Learning Programme

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Organised by the Fantsuam Foundation to increase Nigerians' access to information and communication technology (ICT), this computer-based distance-learning programme seeks to provide affordable internet access to the Mobile Community Telecentre (MCT). Based in Kunyai, Nigeria, the MCT is a van carrying up to four computers to rural communities that lack electricity and phone lines. Five villages within a radius of 15-20km will participate; they will also have access to email services from the MCT. The programme addresses women, girls, secondary school students and teachers, and rural healthcare workers.
Communication Strategies

The internet and email access that this programme provides is designed to meet three needs: distance learning for secondary school students to supplement their formal studies, access for rural teachers who want to train for diplomas and degrees, and information for nurses in Kagoro and Community Health Workers at clinics in the other villages for training and skills updates.

Development Issues

Technology, Women, Youth, Education.

Key Points

Kunyai's population is 1,300; the nearest Internet Service Provider (ISP) is about five hours away, on difficult roads. The other participating villages in this programme are Kagoro (population: 7,000), Kamuru (population: 2,000), Chenckuk (population: 1,500), Ungwan Rimi (population: 4,000) and Sakwak (population: 2,500).


Established in 1996, Fantsuam Foundation is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) located in Nigeria, about 600 miles from Lagos in the north-central part of the country. Fantsuam works to alleviate poverty through participatory decision making that utilises local beliefs as a primary mechanism for setting project priorities. Thus, its primary project partners are women's clan groups, which are non-religious and non-political. These groups are located in Kaduna, Benue, Gombe and Plateau States; between them they have membership of about 3,000. Each participating community and women's group provides volunteers who undertake various activities and training relevant to their project. These volunteers work with Fantsuam's three-member Board of Trustees, made up of Nigerian professionals who determine policy matters. A five-member National Management Committee implements activities.


Fantsuam Foundation also works:

  • to provide collateral-free microcredits for women
  • to promote rural health and education
  • to document local languages in an effort to improve women's access to literacy and education, indigenous knowledge, and traditional medicine, as well as to protect the intellectual property rights of rural communities, and
  • to collaborate with government agencies, Nigerian university departments, and Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora.
Partners

Women's clan groups including Bechechet Bayinring, Fido, Mangu, Dogon Kurmi, Bayanloco, Zagun, Tula and Uwaba-Oju.

Sources

Fantsuam Foundation website.

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