1. Training Perspective The July 2006 war has revealed the extent of the need to initiate specifically cultural and educational activities in rural areas in order to fill the widening gaps in several fields. A new approach is required to address the problems and difficulties impeding so far the necessary changes in the country. The beneficiaries are inscribed in a durable line of a capacity-building project IT supported that offers all the prerequisites for a locally sustainable community activity, whereby the population is invited to take an active role in maintaining, strengthening and expanding the project components, targets and results. Consequently, the populations are encouraged to choose a participatory approach that could lead to their direct contribution to the development of the country.
The project assists rural communities in re-connecting with the “world”, particularly with e-government services as well as other non-public providers of services (private sector and civil society institutions). It helps micro and small enterprises to better understand the needs of the market, become familiar with new technologies and promote their products through the net.
The project contributes to creating job opportunities for the unemployed as well as enhancing the skills of beneficiaries whose working conditions require a more advanced usage of IT. The E-Caravan is covering the disadvantaged rural communities during a three year period, after which, an assessment of the project will take place to further sustain the project.
The project has cultural manifestations: Trainees are learning how to utilize the internet and are provided with a number of websites which they are encouraged to use as resource tools. Diversity and tolerance are thus being promoted as trainees become increasingly aware of cultural proximity and diversity.
2. Training Programme
Training courses are delivered through the E-Caravan Phœnix according to a set calendar and schedule in the selected villages. The programme offers 4 training levels delivered by Formatech targeting beginners from all ages and educational background (E-Literacy courses) as well as persons working in MSEs. Training of the Trainer (ToT) sessions are also scheduled to ensure the sustainability of the project. Around 1,200 persons are benefiting from the E-Literacy courses on a 12-month period, while 80 trainees are entitled to the advanced programme.
A new training component about website creation and manning is provided by the Phœnix Caravan and delivered by Formatech (technical sessions) inside the Phœnix Caravan. A second phase follows with the participation of Baldati association which focuses on website managing and developing. Baldati intervenes as a crucial actor in setting up and developing websites for local communities as the new E-Caravan Phoenix project was designed to respond to the urgent needs of the population of South Lebanon specifically after the July 2006 war. Fondation Saradar and Baldati are developing "the South Web Network" linking the 4 cazas covered by the Phœnix Caravan (http://www.baldati.com).
Recognized as the first NGO in the country to build a "virtual Lebanon" where villages can communicate with each other and link with their families locally and abroad, Baldati works to develop simple and practical methods by which to revive Lebanese villages, reunite their communities, support their institutions, and encourage dialogue among them and their members. This second phase activity will take place in 4 public libraries (one in each of the 4 cazas) affiliated to the Lebanese Ministry of Culture that will be equipped with 1 computer, 1 printer and 1 scanner provided by the Italian Cooperation Office, Ross Programme-Embassy of Italy. As a result, a group of 80 persons selected from various participating villages are being trained to become Website Moderators.
3. Training Activity
The E-Caravan Phœnix training contents is designed to include participants from different educational, cultural and professional backgrounds. Trainees of all ages are invited to enroll. Special attention is provided to the participation of marginalized social groups, amongst which women and children.
Criteria of selection of target groups:
- Traditionally marginalised and vulnerable social categories: girls/women; displaced; youth; children, juvenile delinquents, etc.
- Handicapped & blind
- MSEs workers
- Peripheral and rural populations
- War affected regions (suffering from socio-economic recession)
- Size of groups: 128 beneficiaries per training station.
- Composition of groups: Age and gender distribution
Female participation is reflected not only in the enrolment rate but also in the number of graduated persons. The percentages fluctuate between 40% and 50% depending on the regions.
The training activity started as scheduled, on April 12, in Deir Qanoun el Nahr for a period of 4 weeks. The e-literacy programme implemented in this first location and neighbouring villages as well as in the second station, Barish, generated a wide community interest that was encouraged and sustained by the serious involvement of both municipalities in the mobilisation process. The municipality of Deir Qanoun el Nahr wished to schedule more training groups to accommodate the high demand. But the pre-set calendar required that the E-Caravan Phœnix heads towards Barish (June 9 to July 3rd).
Srifa (July 5 – August 31st) was designated as the third and final station in the caza of Tyre. The training programme assigned to this location included 4 training components: E-literacy, MSE, TOT & website development and management.
In Nabatieh (August 5 – September 4) and in Marjeyoun (October 6 – November 5) witnessed the highest the turn out, as the Phoenix caravan targeted two of the major towns in South Lebanon. As such, the programme included all training levels. It is worth noting that despite the fact that training centres could be available in these main locations, participants have highlighted the difference between the quality of the IT service delivered through the E-Caravan and other trainings provided in the region.
Houla (November 7 – December 6) succeeded in mobilizing an important number of trainees, considering the displacement of populations that has emptied the region for decades now. This fact represents a clear indication of the interest of remote and deprived communities to IT learning and the relevancy and impact of the mobile computer school project in Lebanon.
Aytaroun (December 12, 2008 – January 9, 2009 & February 1-14) was scheduled immediately after Houla when holding the training activity in Majdel Selm that was planned right after Houla, was cancelled. The decision to skip Majdel Selm came after several attempts made by our Field Coordinator and local associations and clubs to host the E-Caravan. Local authorities were not receptive due to the difficulty to mobilise the required number of participants: Majdel Selm is one of these border line villages that still suffers from internal displacement.
4. Ministry of Culture Public Libraries
As initially planned by the E-Caravan Phoenix project, a first public library was designated by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture in the caza of Tyre, once the training activity was completed in the selected villages of this caza. Consequently, Deir Qanoun el Nahr public library was selected to benefit from the equipment (1 computer, 1 printer and 1 scanner) provided by the Italian Cooperation Office, Ross Programme-Embassy of Italy; based on the following criteria: 1) the library needs equipment and is not scheduled on another donor’s list; 2) the library is managed by an active and efficient team.
An official letter by this municipality acknowledging the receipt of the donation and thanking both Fondation Saradar and the Embassy of Italy.
More equipment will be delivered soon to public libraries in the cazas of Nabatieh and Marjeyoun once all the logistics and administrative procedure are finalized.
5. Graduation Ceremony
The first graduation ceremony was held in Deir Qanoun el Nahr on December 19, 2008, while the municipalities of Barish, Srifa and Nabatieh informed Fondation Saradar that no ceremonies will be organized and requested that certificates be delivered to them.
6. Website Development
A two-phase website development training was held in the major towns of Srifa, Nabatieh, Marjeyoun, where ‘front page’ sessions were delivered in preparation for the Baldati intervention, that was scheduled first in Deir Qanoun el Nahr on December 26th, 2008. Other Baldati interventions will be held in Srifa, Nabatieh and Marjeyoun. A well defined process established by Formatech, Baldati and Fondation Saradar ensures the proper selection of the best 18 to 20 Trainees from the targeted villages from each caza in order to set up groups of Moderators who will create and manage a website dedicated to each of the 4 cazas involved in the project. Once each website is uploaded through Baldati portal, the WebSouth Network will be online.
7. Power Point Presentations & Kids Art Works
In some locations, the training schedule allowed young trainees to use the “Paint” application and draw according to their inspiration:
(click on thumbnail to enlarge the picture)
Others, encouraged by the Trainer, produced PowerPoint presentations choosing their own themes.:
(click on thumbnail to download the PowerPoint Presentation)
The contents of these pages are the property of Fondation Saradar. This information cannot be used partially or totally for any purpose other than related to the above-mentioned project and without the prior written approval by Fondation Saradar.
® Phœnix"PROJECT: TRAINING ACTIVITY
)
)
)
)
1. Training Perspective)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=link}