The introduction of technology to a people who are not as conversant is crucial. Do we introduce tech and silently hope that the people we are dealing with will hopefully embrace it in all its entirety and if so, why is it that technology is still a blind spot to many people who have the facilities? Why is the digital divide as wide as ever even with the growing number of people reaching out to bridge it? Why is there no sign of hope for the people left behind by the digital train?

Our experience at Nsambya Kampala was one to behold. From the first of March to the third of March, we were involved in the training of over seventy Congolese refugees in the value and benefits of using social media. This group of people are part of the Xavier Project

On our first day we had a gathering of adults unlike the usual teenagers that we are conversant with. It was not only the difference in composition of people that struck me, but rather the vibrancy of the people. The excitement was almost tangible and by the time we played Simon Sinek’s “How great leaders inspire action”, the mood for the whole weekend was set.

It seemed almost unbelievable that we were there to teach them social media yet what showed first was a YouTube video explaining the value of starting with “why”. Before we even explored the idea on social media, the people had to find out what exactly drives them. Why they do what they do, and why other people should care.

We expected it to be a heinous task, but the gathering was eager, expectant, listening keenly, some even taking notes. It was almost what everyone  to hear and we did tell them exactly that. Playing the Steve Job’s talk afterwards, we made it clear that they had to first know what they stand for, know why and pursue only that which they love.

What followed was eager participation in the learning of different digital tools and their manipulation. We explored the tools in the Internet on the basis of creating, connecting, sharing, learning, discovering, and collaborating. On this basis we looked at social media that would help people achieve these particular angles in regard to their daily activities. This led to the concentration in tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube and even further into how to create blogs.

On Saturday, when we had  a session with the children, to learn basic Internet tools such as Wikipedia, and the power inherent in Google, the adults had to be promised a different session as they had crowded the place, eager for what had transpired before.

This experience, of people so eager and not wanting the weekend to end got us thinking. It is widely known that people internalize information in a certain way. Efficient communicators understand that everyone has;

• Blind spots- ( something that has little or no importance to a person and that may trigger a slightly negative response from the person in question)

• Core values- ( something that a person believes is complete truth, completely justifiable by them and the beliefs that shape their behaviour)

For many people who have not yet had access to technology, it is to them, a blind spot. It is unknown, unappreciated and perhaps, a little disagreeable. What we did for the people at Nsambya, by first making them find out what they believe in and guiding their beliefs by informing them that what they desire for themselves is achievable by use of social media, was indirectly, linking their core beliefs to the blind-spot in question, tech, so as to make it more agreeable to them.

At the end, we had converts who sought to find out more about technology and use it to achieve their sole objectives, whether they sound as simple as acquiring more information or as complex as making Congo a better place.

As a result, Kampala left us with one important thought. The reason people were as willing to adopt technology, was because they knew that somehow they would use it to achieve their wants, For us to bridge the digital divide that has torn the world asunder, we have to bring as many people as we can on board and the only way to do that is make people realize that they can each create their place using digital technology.

What is needed all world over is to understand, that it is not about adopting technology and then finding out our value within it, but rather, finding our value without first and then adopting technology to suit it.

UPDATE:

We’ve uploaded a video that summarizes the activities of this camp. Enjoy!

Next week, from 1st – 3rd March 2012, The Kuyu Project will work with the Xavier Project to teach digital literacy skills to Congolese refugee children who have fled to Uganda and Kenya as part of a greater mission of providing these kids with hope and prospects for their communities.

From the Xavier Project Website:

The Xavier Project does not simply seek to give these refugees an education so that they can be secure and prosperous. In the long term we hope to educate men and women for others who can use their education to make their own world a better place.

We identify with this mission. We believe we can help achieve it.

This is fueled by our want for people to look deep within themselves and realize that they have the ability to be whoever they choose, do whatever they will, without fear, without constriction or subjugation, achieve whatever they desire and in the process leave indisputable marks in the world by simply believing and acting on who they are.

…and while the kids in Uganda can do this almost exclusively on their own, we want to open their minds to the world of digital connectivity and the opportunities that offers them in their course to make a better future for their community as well as for themselves.

The course we intend to take these kids through is modeled around a couple of questions/objectives set out by our host organization as follows:

• What is the internet? What is a website?
• What is social media?
• How can using social media benefit your life and the lives of others? How has it had an impact in other parts of the world?
• How can we access different forms of social media?
• How can we get the most out of various social media?
• How can we use these social media as a platform for a brighter future?

We will chronicle our activities in this camp on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter).

If you’d like to get involved, shoot me an email: simeon@thekuyuproject.org. We would love to have you!