Ch 4 Emerging Economies and Internet access

Though I found plenty of links to charitable organizations that donate new and used computers to developing countries (a bing search for' recycled computers + Africa + charities' yielded over 47,800 results) I could not find the story I heard on public radio (not even on the NPR website).  Still, I love reading about efforts to bridge the digital divide in developing countries, especially Africa, so here are some of my favorite articles I found on the topic and my thoughts on these efforts.  I realize some of hte articles are shorter than the ideal length, but if you put them together, they would be much longer than your typical WSJ article.

The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation (under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet) offered an endowment to the Botswana public library system in August of 2009.  http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/free-access-to-computers-botswana-libraries-090807.aspx Together with the Botswana government they are working to bring about improvements to that country's library system through the technology endowment in order to diminish the digital divide and improve the lives of the citicens of Botswana.  This joint effort is called Sesigo. 

I felt the impact of this strategy more when I readtThese quotes from the library's website:

Computer Training

"In an endeavour to bridge the digital divide normally exacerbated by the lack of access to computers and know how to use them, libraries now offer free access to as well as free computer training to all citizens. Contact your nearest library to find out the training dates."

Internet Access

"Internet is available for public access in Ghanzi, Thamaga, Lobatse, Kanye, Moshupa, Gaborone, Shoshong, Mochudi, Mahalapye, Palapye, Selibe Phikwe, Molalatau, Ramokgonami libraries. More libraries are to be connected. The public can access internet for free. Library staff is available at all times to assist the public."

I read a book from one of my favorite series, which happened to be set in Gaborone, this week. That made me want to look up what the smart people who want to help Africans have been doing in that particular neck of the plains. 

 http://www.sesigo.org.bw/index.php?id=50
Computer Aid International is a UK registered charity that aims to reduce poverty through practical ICT solutions.
The ticker on their website reports that they have already provided 197,975 computers to developing countries.  http://www.computeraid.org/
Also on their website I learned, "Most recently, Computer Aid has launched the ZubaBox, a solar powered IT hub, which will enable access to solar powered ICT anywhere in the world."

EcoFriend's article published in April of 2010 reported that Computer Aid International used this technology to open a solar powered internet cafe in Zambia. http://www.ecofriend.com/entry/computer-aid-international-provides-solar-powered-internet-cafes-in-zambia/

While we have all heard of the plan to burry broadband fiberoptic cable to reach Africa and how the UN supports this initiative, I found dissent where I expected to find support for this proposal, from the NPR website.  The author of the article has impressive credentials, but his emphasis seemed to be largely based on questioning the economic impact of the initiative, with less attention paid to the overall quality of life improvement that can come from a greater knowledge base. 

NPR article argues for better and more consistant research to verify the link between growth of GDP in developing countries and broadband access in this article posted May 20, 2011, written by Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development and a Schwartz fellow at the New America Foundation. http://www.npr.org/2011/05/20/136491388/foreign-policy-put-the-breaks-on-broadband
While stressing the conspicuous absense of hard data or credible research cited in the United Nations summit on the Millennium Development special report, issued the preceeding September.