The 2004/5 APC Africa
Hafkin Communications Prize
2005 APC HAFKIN PRIZE WINNER
TRAINS KENYAN YOUTH FOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa,
May 26 2005 -- For young people living in poverty in coastal
Kenya, surfing the internet and learning how to use computers
make most sense when these skills mean better economic opportunities
and work-readiness. In recognition of this, the Association
for Progressive Communications (APC) announced on May 26
that the winner of the APC Africa Hafkin Communications
Prize for 2004-5 is the “Global Education Partnership
- Wundanyi” in Kenya.
Global Education Partnership - Wundanyi
(GEP) is a not-for-profit organisation located in the Taita
Taveta District of Kenya. It has created a 12-week comprehensive
training programme that focuses on “entrepreneurship
and work-readiness skills” for local youth from 15
to 24 years. "A clear lesson is that entrepreneurs
are difficult -if not impossible- to create but they can
be identified and supported," GEP's East Africa Regional
Coordinator Tammy Palmer told APC.
Taita Taveta is one of the poorest
areas of Kenya with a poverty rate of 66% -- 10% higher
than the national average. The youth in Taita Taveta can
see little on the economic horizon that will offer them
a viable livelihood. Access to traditional livelihoods is
fast shrinking and most residents are subsistence farmers
or squatters.
Over nine years, GEP has trained 948
students, with 944 completing the course, 113 being awarded
business capital, and 47 owning their own business. Students
are asked to contribute a "commitment" of Kshs
1000 (approximately $12.50 USD).
In recognition of their vision
and implementation, a six-member international jury awarded
the Kenyans the $7,500 USD award which is named in honour
of Nancy Hafkin, a pioneer of networking and development
information and communications in Africa.
THE THEME IN 2004-5
| The
theme for the
2004/5 Hafkin Prize is:
Community connectivity projects for economic
development |
"Connectivity is a term
referring to the means by which people are connected to
or are able to access communications channels such as the
internet, email, computer and people networks"
The
theme for this year's award recognises community initiatives
that use the internet and other digital communication networks
to access markets, skills and opportunities to derive real
economic benefits.
APC's
objective is to recognize African ICT efforts, and to extract
some of the lessons learned in order to make them accessible
to others doing related work.
Nominations
werel be judged by our international
jury according to these 3 main criteria:
1.
Positive Economic Impact
2. Africa-Driven and Developing Africa
3. Sustainable use of technology
THE
PRIZE WAS OPEN TO: civil society organisations, community-based
groups, networks, and social movements anywhere in Africa.
Applications were accepted in English and French.
THE PRIZE: USD$7,500.00
|
 |
This
prize is possible thanks to the support of the International
Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
The
APC Hafkin Prize is an initiative of the Association
for Progressive Communications (APC) |
