By Ramune Petuchovaite | EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme Manager
Your generosity has made it possible for us to equip four public and community libraries with a 4G Wifi Pocket Router each and enough data to provide digital skills training to women and youth until the end of 2022. This is one more than the three libraries originally planned. Thank you!
A team from the National Library of Uganda has visited each of the libraries, bringing the equipment and ensuring installation goes smoothly. They found that in spite of difficulties getting online before the arrival of the new equipment, the libraries had been hard at work offering ICT training.
“Some of our learners have pursued careers using ICT,” said a librarian at Mummy Foundation in Central Uganda. “For example, Anna (not her real name) came to us to learn digital marketing, using her smartphone. Now Anna has started up a fruit and vegetable delivery business using Whatsapp and Facebook to look for customers, and is able to support her family.” With their new router and data packages, Mummy Foundation plans to teach schoolchildren to use simulations (digital imitations of real-world activities used to enhance learning).
The librarian at Masaka Public Library, also in Central Uganda, used YouTube videos to teach 17 young people how to make liquid soap. “Some of them have started producing it in large quantities to sell to schools and hospitals. With the new router and data our learners will have access to online information anytime they need to do research."
Uganda Development Services Community Library (UDS) in Eastern Uganda has been skilling student nurses and midwives to research the internet on their smartphones. After their training a group of nurses created a WhatsApp group to share knowledge and experiences. “The 4G Pocket Router will help us to do more outreach training on mobile digital literacy, since we can even recharge it,” said the librarian.
While offline, Nyarushanje Community Library in Western Region has been training teachers and students in basic computer skills. “Thank you for your support,” said the librarian. “Now, with the router and data packages, we will attract many more learners because most people want to learn how to use the internet.”
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