one world uju ofomato ict innovation for community empowerment

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...

m4g@oneworld.net