NetCorps Jordan Introduces IT for Development in Wadi Rum
by Jumana Theodore — last modified 2007-10-25 16:15
This project aims to support the increase of community-based tourism opportunities through building the capacities of CBOs and tourism-oriented entrepreneurs and businesses in the Wadi Rum area.
The Wadi Rum Information Technology Network Project is a current 1-year community tourism development project implemented by NetCorps Jordan and supported by the USAID-funded Siyaha Project. It aims to support the increase of community-based tourism opportunities through building the capacities of CBOs and tourism-oriented entrepreneurs and businesses in the Wadi Rum area by providing them with a new set of technology based skills and tools and guiding them on the integration of ICT tools into their work processes to enhance their performance and improve the quality of their products. Specific focus is being invested in the empowerment of women and youth to become more productive and assume more vital roles in their households, communities and the local economy. The project activities commenced in January 2007 and should be completed by December 2007.
Twenty interns were recruited from Wadi Rum and the villages of Disi and Salheyeh. Then were then trained on technical and professional skills in order to carry out the project activities in the four community IT centers which were established with support and donations from the project partners and private sector companies.
The interns provided basic IT training to the participating community beneficiaries and CBOs in addition to facilitating the incubation of IT related projects, such as blogs, marketing materials, inventory and tracking systems, newsletters, websites, membership systems, and such.
Project Impact … through the eyes of an Intern
Saleh Al Zalabyeh is a typical youth who enjoys playing sports and the great Rum outdoors. He also likes to read “about environmental issues”, he says, “and the internet gave me the opportunity to find a wider variety of information about a lot of interesting topics. I am so glad I decided to learn to use the computer. Next, I want to work on improving my English”.
Saleh comes from big family and has 13 siblings, as his father married three wives. He is educated but lacked the inner motivation and personal skills to seek better life opportunities. He signed up for higher education at the Open Arab University to study English merely for the sake of improving his language skills, without considering how he can put all his thirst for knowledge to good use.
Saleh heard about the Wadi Rum Information Technology Network (WRITN) project from one of his brothers who works at one of the tourism related cooperatives which is also benefiting from the project.
Saleh, like his peers, went through the recruitment phase followed by an extensive training phase which focused on enhancing the participating interns’ technical IT skills using the Microsoft Unlimited Potential learning modules, as well as developing their professional and soft skills using the NetCorps Jordan enablement training materials.
Saleh joined the CBO team of interns whose main aim was to facilitate the integration of IT into the work systems and processes of the partner tourism related cooperatives, in addition to providing the necessary support to guide them through the incubation of specific IT related projects. “We helped them automate their Product Tracking and Inventory System as well as their Membership System. We also worked closely with them on developing monthly newsletters and the content for their new websites”, Saleh says.
Saleh acknowledges that “not only have I made many new friends and learned to use computer applications to my benefit, but now I am also well respected among the various cooperatives with whom I work. Despite my age and the initial difficulties in understanding each other, they now value my work and guidance. I feel I have been able to contribute to improving their business, and I hope to do more.”
But most of all, Saleh is proud that he is no longer the shy aimless young boy who used to play football out in the street. Even his brother says, “He has changed for the better; we all feel it!” At one point, Saleh recounts, “I had to fill in for a colleague from the Facilitator group of interns. For two days, I took over delivering IT sessions to the participating community beneficiaries. I knew my material well and I was confident enough to stand in front of a class to teach them something I had only just learned myself a few months ago.”
Saleh is an ambitious young man who has determination and drive. He continuously strives to improve. For example, he felt he was somewhat weak in Excel because he missed the session during the initial IT training. However, he resorted to his colleagues Nour and Hanan to help him make up for it. He also wants to further improve his person skills, especially his “people skills” because he wants to continue to provide services to others even after the project is completed.
One day, Saleh hopes to start up his own business, possibly an internet café, but he is conscientious enough to know he needs to research this idea very well before doing anything about it.
by Jumana Theodore — last modified 2007-10-25 16:15
This project aims to support the increase of community-based tourism opportunities through building the capacities of CBOs and tourism-oriented entrepreneurs and businesses in the Wadi Rum area.
The Wadi Rum Information Technology Network Project is a current 1-year community tourism development project implemented by NetCorps Jordan and supported by the USAID-funded Siyaha Project. It aims to support the increase of community-based tourism opportunities through building the capacities of CBOs and tourism-oriented entrepreneurs and businesses in the Wadi Rum area by providing them with a new set of technology based skills and tools and guiding them on the integration of ICT tools into their work processes to enhance their performance and improve the quality of their products. Specific focus is being invested in the empowerment of women and youth to become more productive and assume more vital roles in their households, communities and the local economy. The project activities commenced in January 2007 and should be completed by December 2007.
Twenty interns were recruited from Wadi Rum and the villages of Disi and Salheyeh. Then were then trained on technical and professional skills in order to carry out the project activities in the four community IT centers which were established with support and donations from the project partners and private sector companies.
The interns provided basic IT training to the participating community beneficiaries and CBOs in addition to facilitating the incubation of IT related projects, such as blogs, marketing materials, inventory and tracking systems, newsletters, websites, membership systems, and such.
Project Impact … through the eyes of an Intern
Saleh Al Zalabyeh is a typical youth who enjoys playing sports and the great Rum outdoors. He also likes to read “about environmental issues”, he says, “and the internet gave me the opportunity to find a wider variety of information about a lot of interesting topics. I am so glad I decided to learn to use the computer. Next, I want to work on improving my English”.
Saleh comes from big family and has 13 siblings, as his father married three wives. He is educated but lacked the inner motivation and personal skills to seek better life opportunities. He signed up for higher education at the Open Arab University to study English merely for the sake of improving his language skills, without considering how he can put all his thirst for knowledge to good use.
Saleh heard about the Wadi Rum Information Technology Network (WRITN) project from one of his brothers who works at one of the tourism related cooperatives which is also benefiting from the project.
Saleh, like his peers, went through the recruitment phase followed by an extensive training phase which focused on enhancing the participating interns’ technical IT skills using the Microsoft Unlimited Potential learning modules, as well as developing their professional and soft skills using the NetCorps Jordan enablement training materials.
Saleh joined the CBO team of interns whose main aim was to facilitate the integration of IT into the work systems and processes of the partner tourism related cooperatives, in addition to providing the necessary support to guide them through the incubation of specific IT related projects. “We helped them automate their Product Tracking and Inventory System as well as their Membership System. We also worked closely with them on developing monthly newsletters and the content for their new websites”, Saleh says.
Saleh acknowledges that “not only have I made many new friends and learned to use computer applications to my benefit, but now I am also well respected among the various cooperatives with whom I work. Despite my age and the initial difficulties in understanding each other, they now value my work and guidance. I feel I have been able to contribute to improving their business, and I hope to do more.”
But most of all, Saleh is proud that he is no longer the shy aimless young boy who used to play football out in the street. Even his brother says, “He has changed for the better; we all feel it!” At one point, Saleh recounts, “I had to fill in for a colleague from the Facilitator group of interns. For two days, I took over delivering IT sessions to the participating community beneficiaries. I knew my material well and I was confident enough to stand in front of a class to teach them something I had only just learned myself a few months ago.”
Saleh is an ambitious young man who has determination and drive. He continuously strives to improve. For example, he felt he was somewhat weak in Excel because he missed the session during the initial IT training. However, he resorted to his colleagues Nour and Hanan to help him make up for it. He also wants to further improve his person skills, especially his “people skills” because he wants to continue to provide services to others even after the project is completed.
One day, Saleh hopes to start up his own business, possibly an internet café, but he is conscientious enough to know he needs to research this idea very well before doing anything about it.
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