Open And Distance Learning For Poverty Reduction

Fisheries project, Lake Victoria, Kenya.

Five new open and distance learning programmes designed to reduce rural poverty have been selected by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) for support under its latest Poverty Reduction Outcomes through Education, Innovations and Networks (COL-PROTEIN) initiative. 

The proposals are from not-for-profit groups and institutions in Cameroon, India, Kenya, Nigeria and Solomon Islands. These non-governmental organisations will receive resources and materials, consultancy and expert advice from COL. They will also get financial support up to Canadian $20,000. 

The main objective of COL-PROTEIN is to support projects that adopt open and distance learning and information and communications technologies (ICTs) to help build rural capacity in food security, environmental protection, rural development, nutritional education and micro-enterprise.

One of the schemes selected for support proposes solar cooking lessons via telecentres in Nigeria, submitted by the Fantsuam Foundation. The organisation plans to produce training materials on solar cooking and spread the knowledge using ICTs. It also hopes to do research on materials and methods for sharing information and knowledge via ICTs and distance learning in Africa. 

From Andhra Pradesh, India, the organisation Constant Service in Developing Education and Rural Reconstruction suggested community-based distance learning for development among fisherfolk. The project is to create awareness of improved methods of fish post-harvesting technology and self-supportive women's co-operatives. The focus is on women and girls of fishing communities who stay on land while men are out deep-sea fishing.

A kitchen gardens and nutrition initiative was submitted by Women in the Fishing Industry Project Trust in Kisumu, Kenya. The idea is to enable women and other community members in Lake Victoria, Western Kenya, to improve their health and economic status by receiving information on good nutrition and its impact on health; establishing and maintaining kitchen gardens; and on manufacturing and using organic compost for their gardens.

Small business training for rural women in Cameroon's Upper Nkam Division was proposed by Protégé QV. This initiative aims to help rural women in the Upper Nkam Division develop new skills and start micro-enterprises. 

The Rural Development Volunteer Association of Honiara, Solomon Islands, submitted a proposal for the coaching of rural trainers. The main aim of the project is to strengthen the Youth First Computer Centre, an existing ICT resource and learning centre for young people.

COL is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. It is based in Vancouver, Canada.

 

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 213  8 December 2004

Related News:

• Commonwealth of Learning - COL