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ELECTRONIC INFORMATION FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT (EIYE) BY STELLA NEKUUSA Principal Librarian-National Library of Uganda. PROBLEM/COMMUNITY NEED. High rate of Youth Unemployment Lack of skills to use ICT/access points Idleness, desperation, vulnerability to vices, manipulation
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ELECTRONIC INFORMATION FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT (EIYE)BYSTELLA NEKUUSAPrincipal Librarian-National Library of Uganda
PROBLEM/COMMUNITY NEED • High rate of Youth Unemployment • Lack of skills to use ICT/access points • Idleness, desperation, vulnerability to vices, manipulation Idle unemployed Youth involved in political demonstrations
SOLUTION • Keep the youth busy • Get the youth active and productive EIYE aims to • Provide basic ICT skills • Connect youth to opportunities • Improve youth socio-economic status • Build confidence
HOW • Training them in : essential computer applications; internet connectivity; mobile phone sms communication • Provide free computer and internet access • Provide them with instant information on opportunities via sms • Create a database of information relating to their needs.
PARTNERSHIP AND ROLES EIFL Main project funding organization NLU Grant recipient and overall project coordinator Librarians • Train the youth • Create a database of their information needs • Communicate information via sms • Advertise and market the project
PARTNERSHIP and ROLES cont’d National Youth Council • Identify unemployed youth and their needs • Market the project among the youth Masindi and Lira Local Governments • Provide infrastructure • Market the project to central government Youth • Enable the implementation of the project and market it to other youth
TECHNOLOGY • Computer sets for document processing • Projectors for group training • Mobile phones for communicating information instantly via sms • Internet connectivity for sourcing information and social networking
IMPACT • Computer Literacy-400 people who had never touched a computer can now search for information on the internet. Find job openings and required skills and qualifications, find training opportunities. • Job Seeking- So far 1 copy typist, 1 secretary, 1 records officer found jobs • Job creation- Hope for self employment provide secretarial services etc. • Study opportunities-Students applying for university education online
IMPACT Cont.. • Computer applications- A pastor testified that he no longer has to pay for secretarial services which saves him money and time. • Internet Networking- The students now have e-mail accounts, face book and tweeter accounts to share current information and communicate. • Information-Market information is accessed on Google trade. • Confidence-At the World Book Day celebrations Public Debate, students confidently got involved in the debate on e-books vs. printed books.
LESSONS LEARNT Challenges: • Computer illiteracy among youth is overwhelming (90%) • Language barrier which caused drop outs and students lagging behind • Computers are few compared to demand for the service Achievements: • Youth turned up in large numbers showing interest in the project and are proudly talking about their new skills which has widely marketed the project.
CONCLUSSION • Emulating the project in other public libraries Starting with libraries that already have computer and internet technology in the library • Start a mobile computer training service
