ICT innovation for community empowerment
Uju Ofomata
OneWorld UK
• Part of an int’l network of OneWorld Centres
OneWorld UK• An online portal for global justice since 1994
• Innovation of ICT and mobile technology
OneWorld UK
Lifelines India Mobile for Good
The situation in Nigeria
• 3.2 million with HIV/AIDS - 220,000 children
• 60% of new infections in 15-25 age group
• Average age of girls’ first sexual activity is 13• 27 women die every day from unsafe abortions
• 80% of these are teenagers
• Maternal mortality among WORST in world
… and yet…
Sex is traditionally a very private subject in Nigeria andthe discussion of sex with teenagers is often seen asinappropriate… Lack of accurate information aboutsexual health has meant there are many myths andmisconceptions about sex and HIV, contributing toincreasing transmission rates as well as stigma anddiscrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS.
AVERT report on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, 2008
The situation in Nigeria
Innovative Solutions •Butterfly Works: Education and design specialists•OneWorld: mobile technology
Innovative Solutions • Local expertise in Nigeria – creative partnership with
Community Based Organisations and Government
Girls’ Power Initiative, Nigeria
• Critical support from funders
Learning about LivingSeveral Goals….
1. Provide information to empower young people to make informed decisions about their sexual health
2. Increase gender equality3. Reduce HIV/AIDS, Maternal Mortality
e-Learning environment
• 25 pre-prepared lessons for teachers and students• Information through virtual peer educators using
‘info-cartoons’ and youth friendly language• Educative games, quizzes and role plays
e-Learning environment
• Developed to experiential learning principles
e-Learning environment
• Can be used as a stand alone tool
e-Learning environment
• Developed and tested with young people
e-Learning environment
• CMS open source (easily adjusted for different states)
e-Learning environment
Nigeria’s...
• 64 millionmobile users
• 56% annual growth rate
• Market leader with S. Africa
• Prominence of SMS• Expanding to 3G
... led us to launch “MyQ” & “MyA”
The mobile service
The mobile service• MyQ: answering urgent sexual health questions…
via email via phone via SMS
Providing vital sexual health informationanonymously, confidentially and quickly.
• MyA: a monthly sexual health competition toencourage discussion and engagement
How it works
What have we achieved?• Students: genuine excitement & safe environment
What have we achieved?• Teachers: enthusiasm about ICT & safe environment
What have we achieved?• Partners: shown genuine passion and involvement
What have we achieved?
• Media: positive coverage across Nigeria on Adolescent Reproductive Health
What have we achieved?A few numbers…
• 100,000+ SMS questions received & answered
• Almost 9,000 students reached with eLearning
• More than 320 teachers trained on eLearning
• Piloted in 16 schools…
• …and 1 out of school youth centre
Messages sent to MyQ
targetactual
Satisfaction Levels for MyQ
“I have a friend who is HIVpositive,should i keep away from him because i might get infected.pls what should i do?”
“I av boyfriend but dont know his statue.and he wanted 2 av sex with me.Pls help me”
“Can an HIV+ mother breast feed her baby without infecting d baby”
What have we achieved?
Some challenges• Mobile network problems – disruption to MyQ
Some challenges• Human – big classes, more FLHE-trained teachers
Some challenges• Infrastructure – more computers
Some challenges• Funding – more needed to maintain momentum
What’s Next…
• Scale up throughout Nigeria
• Launch in Senegal
• Scoping studies: Mexico & Morocco
• Rwanda? Uganda? Kenya?
Ghana? Nepal? .....
“I feel more comfortable and relaxed” – Cecilia Akobi
“The pictures on the computer help me recall things” – Nnamdi Amadi
“It gives me more understanding about what I am learning” – Akanine Udoh
Find out more
Check out the site…
http://mobile.oneworld.net
Watch a video about the project…
http://mobile.oneworld.net/lal/about-us#video
Check out OneWorld’s other mobile projects...
http://mobile.oneworld.net/docs/lal/Mobile4Good.pdf
Get in touch...