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Thursday, July 28, 2005
Technology to give jobs to rural folk
The deployment of technology in the rural areas could alleviate poverty by giving local residents access to timely information and business opportunities.
That’s what Angelito Geverola, country coordinator of World Corps-Philippines (WC-Ph), said in an interview.
WC-Ph is one of the country offices of World Corps, an international non-profit and nongovernment organization that provides leadership training on entrepreneurship and community development.
Eight out-of-school youths from the rural areas of Cebu province have availed themselves of the training and are now called World Corps Professionals (WCP). Fourteen more are in training.
After its two pilot Community Information Centers (CICs) were set up in Sudlon II and Sogod two years ago, 10 more rural and suburban communities may benefit from World Corps’ program, including places in Cebu like Catmon, Carmen, Liloan, Borbon, Hagnaya, Alcantara, and Buhisan, said Sol Mari Sato, program coordinator.
CICs are centers that provide information and communications technology and its applications managed by WCPs.
She said people in the rural areas are taught the basics of computer operation and application.
Geverola said partners help them set up their pilot CICs, but the centers later become self-sustaining.
“We teach our trainees how to be self-employed.... They will identify what goods or services are needed in their ... communities and earn from these,” he said.
The CIC in Sogod, for example, makes money from the Internet service it offers residents.
Farmers in Sudlon II, on the other hand, benefit from the services of WCPs who give them information on the vegetables needed by the market, and where to sell their goods.
In return, the WCPs get a share of every transaction they make, she said. (ALC)
(July 28, 2005 issue)
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