Community Telecentres: Taking ICT to rural areas

The Rwanda Development Board through its Information Technology department (RDB-IT) has rolled out 13 Multipurpose -community telecentres in the countryside, in an effort to bridge the ICT gap between rural folks and the markets they seek to pursue. The initiative has recorded tremendous success, but it is still faced with a number of challenges, The New Times’ Paul Ntambara reports. The Huye District Community Telecenter stands elegantly at the centre of Butare town. When I visited the centre inside I saw over 13 people, mainly women were busy tapping on their keyboards with their eyes fixed on their computer screens. These are rural folks from different cooperatives acquiring basic computer skills for different computer applications like Microsoft Word, Excel and Internet technology. Mediatrice Mukansanga, a member of Igicumbi cya Ngoma Cooperative had never touched a computer mouse before. Initially, she believed that computers were for highly educated. She is full of smiles as she describes her new exciting experience with computers. “I never thought that I would one day be able to operate a computer. It is interesting how calculations can be done with ease using Excel,” says a beaming Mukansanga. Mukansanga’s Cooperative owns a computer but it has been lying idle, gathering dust at their headquarters. But all this is set to change after the acquisition of ICT skills through the Huye District Telecentre. “We shall now keep good records of craft works using our computer. Report writing and other simple computations will no longer be a problem. Our eyes have now been opened,” she reveals with a wide smile on her face. Fleury Arakaza, a training specialist from RDB-IT captures the enthusiasm of the trainees: “Many cannot believe that they are operating the computers. The speed at which they are learning is simply amazing.” “Many have never gone beyond primary six but over the last four weeks they have managed to acquire vital skills in Microsoft word, excel and Internet use,” he adds. Language barrier However, for the rural folks who seem enthusiastic about this ICT ‘revolution’, bridging the gap in terms of access is being hampered by what is amounting to a language barrier. For instance all of the software applications are either in English or French a serous challenge to the semi-illiterate trainees. According to Arakaza, translation is hectic but a must.“We try as much as possible to adopt the language used. However, lack of software developed in Kinyarwanda poses a serious challenge but the trainees are coping. They are all scoring highly in all applications taught,” says Arakaza. Community Telecentres also provide other services to the local community. These include basic office functions such as Internet services, printing, photocopying and scanning. Red tape a hinderance Richard Nsengumuremyi, a technician at the centre does not mince his words as he expresses his disappointment with district authorities for failing to provide equipment servicing to the Telecenter. “The equipment you see is not being used because it lacks cartridge. It takes over a month to endorse a requisition at the district headquarters,” says Nsengumuremyi. According to Nsengumuremyi, Telecentres are managed by district authorities. Districts authorities manage the accounts of these Telecenters and are therefore supposed to equip and service them. Apart from cases of having some mal-functional equipment, the Telecentre in Huye lacks proper toilet facilities. There is no water supply to the Telecenter. Nsengumuremyi acknowledges the threat this poses. “We have a toilet but without constant water supply, it cannot operate. With the increasing number of people coming to the Telecentre, there is need to address this issue,” he says. “We also need to consider a backup for power as this centre is gaining prominence day by day, ”he added. Nsengumuremyi is not far from the truth. The telecentres are meant to offer some sort of a digital lifeline to the rural folks in as far as business is concerned. Ends