[huridocs-tech] Prize-winning project makes Internet access for schoolchildren reality

PRIZE-WINNING PROJECT MAKES INTERNET ACCESS FOR ALL SCHOOLCHILDREN IN
NAMIBIA A REAL POSSIBILITY

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, November 7 2002 - SchoolNet Namibia, a
volunteer-driven organisation that is working to see all Namibian
schoolchildren get access to a computer and the internet, was awarded the
APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize for people-centred information and
communications technology (ICT) policy at a ceremony attended by the prize
finalists and other champions of the ICT and development sector in Addis
Ababa this evening. Second place went to the policy programme of
Bridges.org, a research and advocacy non-profit from South Africa that
promotes access to ICT by researching, testing, and promoting best
practices for sustainable technology use.

"Network architecture. Sector liberalisation. Infrastructure. Regulatory
frameworks. Universal access. Universal service obligations. Radio
frequency spectrum. Software and applications. They're all areas of ICT
policy. You can see why civil society organisations and others are often
intimidated by the technicalities from taking on the challenge of working
for positive change in national ICT policy!" said Nancy Hafkin, networking
pioneer for whom the prize is named. This is why APC - a non-profit
association which has worked to promote Internet and ICTs for development
since 1990 - chose to focus this year's Hafkin Prize on inspirational
African ICT policy initiatives.

"ICT policy decisions impact any citizen who wants to take advantage of
the opportunities that can come with new technologies," Hafkin pointed out
in her congratulatory message. "Will the national policy favour technology
that is state-of-the art but not affordable to the rural areas? Will
government provide service subsidies to the poorest or to the disabled?
Will government encourage the development of software that the illiterate
can use? All of these are the very real and non-technical questions that
are determined by national ICT policy choices. Both SchoolNet Namibia and
Bridges.org have been leaders in demystifying ICT policy and bringing its
realities to people in Africa."

SchoolNet Namibia's objective is to provide appropriate computer
technology and Internet access to ALL schools in Namibia. Primarily a
hands-on training and support organization, their successful introduction
of computers and internet into over 200 schools since 2000 led SchoolNet
to become actively involved in policy-making at the national level in
Namibia.

SchoolNet Namibia is an exemplary role model for the sustainable
introduction of ICT across the education sector. The SchoolNet model which
includes the adoption of appropriate school computer technology, the use
of open source and free software solutions, free Internet Service
provision in partnership with local government-owned telecommunication
agencies, and solar-powered school computer laboratories can be replicated
by education systems across Africa. The Namibian government has recognised
SchoolNet Namibia in its National Development Plan for 2000-2005 as a key
actor in the roll-out of ICT in education and job creation.

Awarded with a very honourable mention was the policy programme of
Bridges.org, which is committed to raising awareness of the impact of
policy decisions at both the policy level and at the grass-roots level.
The policy team drafts issue-based reports and briefs, gets information
into the hands of government officials who can use it, informs
policy-making, involves people at ground-level in policy debate, and acts
as a bridge between international views and best practices and local
circumstances. Bridges.org has worked closely with South African
government officials to provide practical input to their ICT legislation
and planning.

Bridges.org also catalyses public support for ICT policies by explaining
the issues in laymen's terms, helping citizens understand the potential
benefits of ICT for their daily lives. The policy team publishes community
articles that detail the implications of policy issues in a meaningful
way, and covers topical issues such as digital public records and citizen
rights to privacy.

"Since APC first started awarding the Hafkin Prize and its international
equivalent, the APC Betinho Communications Prize in 2000, we have become
more and more convinced that it is essential to publicise and promote the
types of ICT initiatives that embody APC's core development values such as
community-initiated, -driven and -managed ICT projects, especially those
that contribute to empowering and supporting organisations, social
movements and individuals to make meaningful contributions to human
development," explained APC's acting Executive Director, Maureen James
regarding the motivation for the prize. "The Hafkin Prize plays a small
but important role by recognising and rewarding real life examples of how
the Internet can be, and is being, used as a powerful tool for development
and social justice."

The Hafkin Prize winner and finalists were all present at the award
ceremony which was held during a workshop on civil society and ICT policy
co-organised by APC.


ABOUT THE APC HAFKIN AFRICA COMMUNICATIONS PRIZE

The $7,500 USD APC Hafkin Prize - a biannual award - recognises
outstanding examples of African initiatives in information and
communications technology (ICTs) for development.

The Theme in 2001:  People-Centred Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) Policy in Africa

More about the prize finalists and winner:
http://www.apc.org/english/hafkin/2002.shtml

Prize Winner - SchoolNet Namibia: http://www.schoolnet.na
Honourable mention - Bridges.org: http://www.bridges.org

The Hafkin Prize is supported in part by the International Development
Research Centre (IDRC).

Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is one of the
world's leading institutions in the generation and application of new
knowledge to meet the challenges of international development. For more
than 30 years, IDRC has worked in close collaboration with researchers
from the developing world in their search for the means to build a
healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous society.


ABOUT APC

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international
network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and
supporting groups and individuals through the strategic use of information
and communication technologies (ICTs), especially Internet-related
technologies. APC and its members pioneer practical and relevant uses of
ICTs for civil society, especially in developing countries. APC is an
international facilitator of civil society's engagement with ICTs and
related concerns, in both policy and practice.

APC: http://www.apc.org
Our policy work in Africa: http://africa.rights.apc.org


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact:

Karen Higgs
APC Communications
Cassinoni 1085
11200 Montevideo
Uruguay
Tel: +598 2 400-6460
Email: khiggs@apc.org

Photos available: contact khiggs@apc.org
APC Forum is a meeting place for the APC community - people and
institutions who are or have been involved in collaboration with
APC, and share the APC vision - a world in which all people have easy, equal
and affordable access to the creative potential of information and
communication technologies (ICTs) to improve their lives and create more
democratic and egalitarian societies.





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