"...there is a need to increase the penetration of computers among the developing nations by bringing down their costs and setting up community-based computer centres.... Mechanisms for donation of lower-version computers need to be explored."—Vikas Nath (18)
African networking: ICT clusters
African leadership for ongoing success
Trusted local leaders know their people best. When CFA begins work in an area, these individuals introduce us to administrators who they feel are likely to embrace an ICT program. If these communities succeed in establishing a successful CFA program, they in turn introduce us to their neighbors. Thus, a community-recommended "cluster" of schools is born and becomes the focus of our efforts for several years.
CFA schools in the district progress together through the steps of ICT development. Whenever possible, representatives from each community gather together to learn how to keep their machines running and get the most out of their investment. They attend CFA maintenance and repair school together as well as workshops on installing sustainable internet, using E-mail, doing internet research and designing web sites. Such meetings encourage the development of relationships, the key for long-term sustainability when CFA has moved on.