Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society

The Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society (PICISOC) are dedicated to exploring how ICTs can be used to further livelihoods and sustainable development for Pacific Islanders. They host a couple of special interest groups including one supporting ICTs for women including youth. PICISOC is currently assisting the region to explore ways to implement the Pacific Regional Digital Strategy.

They are a useful contact for exploring youth and ICTs. For further information contact Anju Mangal (anjum@spc.int).

Piu Youth Group Masoa project in Samoa

The Piu Youth Group Masoa project in Samoa is designed to increase youth-related ICT activities as a way of supporting livelihoods ad income-generating opportunities as well as encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship. It is intended to extend the project to include other youth groups and products in Samoa and other Pacific Island countries.

To read more about the Piu Youth Group project go to page 33 of the UNESCO Sustainable Island Living publication.

The E-Chutney project in Fiji

The E-Chutney project was a pilot scheme launched in May 2004 by the Fiji government's Information Technology & Communications (ITC) Department as part of a larger e-government programme to open telecentres to promote rural economic development. It is designed to empower women in Navua, a small agricultural centre in Fiji, who have for years made a few extra dollars on the weekends producing and selling tamarind chutney on the local market. By enabling these women to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to reach customers in the country's largest market (the capital, Suva), this initiative aims to increase their income - and their self-esteem.

How is this initiative coming along? Has Fiji's government been able to expand the number of telecentres? How have youth participated and benefited?

One laptop per child project being piloted in Solomon Islands

The South Pacific Community, SPC is promoting a pilot project in the Solomon Islands known as "One Laptop per Child", OLPC, linked to the existing Ministry of Education Distance Learning Centres Project being implemented by the People First Network.

Thanks to Anju at SPC for this information.

Saunaka Community village ICT project

In Saunaka Community village ICT project – they are currently engaging single women, unemployed women and youths in ICT education. Terry Wozniak – a peace corp volunteer is mentoring the women and children to be able to utilize ICTs in order to pursue business opportunities using ICTs.

Thanks to Anju Mangal at SPC for this information

One Laptop Per Farmer, Per Child, or both?

CTA are calling for a One Laptop Per Farmer initiative to match the One Laptop Per Child initiaitive. There could be some opportunities for young farmers in the Pacific here. Definitely worth following up with CTA (who have a reasonaby good opportunity with SPC).

Samoa's Fesootai Project

Samoa ’s Fesootai project uses telecentres to allow families and friends to communicate with each other in different parts of the world. The centers are run by women in Samoa and have generated interest from other Pacific countries. The centres are also used as a form of marketing for various products to a number of people in the outside world. A gateway to tell people what’s available in Samoa and where exactly to get it from. Youths are currently being trained through the telecentres.

Thanks to Anju Mangal at SPC for this information.

Youth and ICTs, supporing agriculture through information provision

There is considerable scope for encouraging youth participation in ICTs as a way of supporting business ventures in relation to agriculture. This might involve youth or youth groups in the provision of technical information for improved agriculture or information regarding markets. SPC projects such as the Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP) project have undertaken some pilot projects in relation to youths and ICTs and information provision.

Initiative NSL 7 of the Pacific Youth Strategy 2010 calls for the promotion of youth participation in ICT businesses.

If youth can be provided with sufficient support, and have access to credit, low-cost appropriate technology can be the basis of successful enterprises. Globally, there are a growing number of examples of low-cost technology such as mobile phones, fax machines and computers linked to the internet being used by rural youth to establish small kiosks or information centres, with low start-up costs, providing communication services to their communities.

What are the similar examples for the Pacific Islands. If you are aware of initiatives involving youth using ICTs to supply appropriate information to their communities or farmers please do share with us. We need to get examples of success stories that can be replicated and scaled-up in other countries.