The Computer Revolution: Struggling For Survival in Rural Cameroon
Tamara Palamakumbura
ABSTRACT
PCDI (http://www.pcdi-cameroon.org) is a local CIG (NGO) based in rural Cameroon. This article discusses our efforts to "bridge the digital divide" and the reality behind the technological revolution. We face a battle on two fronts. Firstly, chronic poverty. For most of the population technology and its benefits is a luxury commodity. The necessities are foods and medicines and in a time of rising food prices, the luxuries must be cut down. We offer the only internet access in the entire division of 13 villagers and yet we face a daily battle to survive. The continuation of the internet services is by no means certain. Secondly, computer illiteracy. Much of the community has not and cannot use a computer. Yet when we offer free internet training, they refuse.
INTRODUCTION
"Many developing countries remain poor largely because they had let the Industrial Revolution pass them by. They can ill afford to miss the information technology revolution". M. S. Swaminatham (ICT for Poverty Reduction: Myths, Realities and Development Implications)
Information Communication Technology (ICT) is the modern day driver of economic growth and poverty alleviation. PCDI embraces this principle and works at bridging the digital divide in the rural communities of Cameroon through a multi-pronged approach. Firstly through IT training.
PCDI runs a school where software and hardware courses, and full time and part time courses are run. In fitting with PCDI's objectives, places at the school are offered at no cost to vulnerable women and children. During our last graduation, we were proud to graduate one of these students and we will continue to offer her the necessary support so as to allow her to develop herself.
Secondly through offering internet access (PCDI is the only provider of such services in the division of 13 villagers).
However the reality is much more complex than these text book solutions suggest.
The proclaimed revolution in Mobile Phones technology is indeed being felt in Cameroon. It is rare for an individual to not have a phone. But it is equally rare for the normal populace to be able to afford to make a call. The phones are sold on a pay-as-you-go basis and people cannot afford to purchase the credit. So communication is via a system of "beeps", whereby one person calls another but before the receiver can pick up the phone, the caller has hung up. This is a message to the second person that the first person wishes to communicate and if the second person has credit they should call back. Normally they do not have credit to return the call.
Despite these obstacles the transformation caused by the introduction telecommunication is obvious, even to the casual observer. The computing revolution in contrast, has been much slower to take root. Before PCDI there was another internet café in the village. But the enterprise has long since shut its doors. This is PCDI's second attempt to provide internet services to the village and now we face a daily battle to survive. The future of our internet café is by no means certain.
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