December 23, 2016

Free Internet/email workshop for Malo leaders Ref: https://dailypost.vu/news/free-internet-email-workshop-for-malo-leaders/article_a6b1046b-3d37-5c79-9302-c43e9446d0f4.html iTuani Infomesen & Comunikesen Senta (iICS) was established on Malo Island to promote information and communication technology (ICT) in rural areas since November 2015 with the assistance of the Vanuatu Government through Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR). iICS plays a very important role in the community by providing the ICT services and promotes the Internet use as a tool to improve and facilitate the communication in rural communities on Malo Island in Sanma Province. iICS’ existence benefits the Malo population to access the secretarial services, media services and internet services in place instead of traveling to Luganville, Santo, which is very costly on transportation. On December 20th – 22nd, 2016 iICS organized a 100% free Malo Leaders workshop including accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner during those three day workshop. The purpose of this fully funded workshop is to encourage Malo leaders to learn and understand the importance of the use of computer, internet and email that will facilitate their work in the community. The selected leaders are including Provincial Area Councillors, Provincial Area Secretary, Island council of chief representative, area council of chief representatives, village council of chief representatives, all the existing church leaders, community leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, school heads and clinic health workers. At the end of the three days’ workshop the participants that never used a computer before started to write small report using computer, open their own email account and start to do research on the internet. The exciting part of the training was the online workshop conducted by an international organization in partnership with iTuanin infomesen & Communikesen Senta (iICS). All the participants were so impressed to have direct communication with the tutor who lives on the other side of the world at a time zone that is 12 hours behind Vanuatu local time. The iICS Management doesn’t regret about the high cost he has done by itself to make sure the facilities meet the standard requirement for the online workshop to be held successfully on such rural and remote area but it’s the fulfilment of its dream to participate in our local leaders’ ICT capacity building. The other good news is that each participant was able to sit in front of a computer/laptop during the three days workshop to freely interact with the machine and iICS was so proud to take the local leaders that have many responsibilities to a new level of technology that will be hopefully contributing to their daily responsibility to be carried out easily and effectively by using a computer. Half of the invited participants who were not able to attend the workshop were missing that great opportunity which was free and fully equipped. iICS will continue to organize such workshops in remote and rural communities to uphold its vision to promote ICT in rural and remote areas.