OneWorld.net (U.S.)

Apart from the interaction that happens at various international conferences, peer-to-peer learning among grassroot organisations remains minimal. Dwelling into such concerns, a learning exchange programme was conducted for organisations from Africa and India which promote the use of various forms of ICTs as a tool for social and economic development. The programme was organised to exchange development perspectives, to understand various ICT initiatives that underdeveloped communities could explore for developing their abilities further. The six-day learning exchange programme gave participants a practical overview of the various ICT initiatives in India and more importantly gave an insight to various models of ICT intervention in rural India. One of the interventions visited was at Sirsa, an initiative spearheaded by Drishtee. Drishtee's vision is of connecting India village-by-village by establishing information centres. Another visit was organised to TARAhaat in the Bundelkand region, which works on developing local business cum community information centres to address the rural needs powered by technology. The services offered at these centres include computer education, license service, vocational training for women, digital photography, etc. Participants also underwent a day-long training on developing audio content at the studio of The Leprosy Mission Media Centre, Noida and also developed three radio programmes on Tsunami, HIV/AIDS and a promotional programme for ICT centres. The participant organisations included ARAVIS, TERI and MSSRF from India and Eastern Province Women's Development Association, Zambia, Mazumbuka Community Radio Station, Zambia, KFM, Uganda, Kubatana and SAFIRE, Zimbabwe from Africa. South Asia is communicating; Africa has the potential to follow.