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PROGRAM DETAILS Introduction The African Internet Connectivity project, "The Internet and Women's Democratic Organizing: Promoting Civil Society and Democratic Networking in West Africa" is sponsored by Michigan State University its African Studies Center and office of Women and International Development, the MATRIX Center for the Humane Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences OnLine, the West African Research Center (WARC) and the Institute for African Democracy in Dakar, Senegal. The project seeks to facilitate women's social and political activism and regional networking through Internet technologies. The grant for this program is MATRIX's third two-year grant received from the US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with funds from the Education for Development and Democracy (EDDI). All of the grants awarded to MATRIX centered around civic exchange for technology training and civic education. The
first of two three-week workshops took place from May 8th to May
25th 2000. Ten participants attended from West Africa: two from
Ghana, three from Nigeria, two from Mali and three from Senegal.
The participants of the May 2000 workshop included activists, journalists,
lawyers and university faculty as well as a member of the Malian
Parliament and a director of a computer-training institute. The aims of each workshop were:
The planning for both workshops and the selection of workshop participants was a collaborative effort involving MATRIX, the MSU African Studies Center, Women in International Development, and the Institute for African Democracy (IAD), with assistance from the Public Affairs Sections of the US Embassy in each country and the office of Citizen's Exchange. Our partner organization in Dakar, IAD, helped the MSU team to identify suitable women's organizations in Ghana, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal from which to invite applications to the workshop. In the selection process we tried to invite women from organizations that were active in promoting women's participation in politics, and women who were strategically positioned within those organizations. These organizations and candidates were then reviewed jointly by the MSU team, IAD, and the Public Affairs Section officers in each country and the ten participants were selected from the women nominated to participate. (See Participant Biographies, 2000) Once
the participants were selected, each was sent a needs-assessment
questionnaire to elicit information on their computer skills and
on the kinds of training they hoped to receive during the workshop.
We also solicited information about their organizations, and how
they hoped to be able to use Internet skills to accomplish the stated
goals of their institutions or association. Once these questions
were received, Dean Rehberger, Associate Director of Matrix worked
with his staff to design Internet training modules for the workshop.
Dr. Lisa Fine designed the series of seminars and roundtable discussions
on American women's political organizing and activism. (See Participant
Biographies, 2001) For both workshops, the participants spent two weeks at MSU receiving Internet training and attending a variety of sessions on women's political activism in the United States. In the 2000 workshop, each day was divided into the Internet training sessions and the women's activism seminars, alternating mornings and afternoons. In the 2001 workshop, mornings were devoted to technology training sessions, and in the afternoons participants took part in discussion seminars and field-trips related to women's organizing and advocacy issues in the United States. Internet
Training Sessions: Each day participants spent at least three
hours in technology trainings with the evenings devoted to optional
open lab-sessions for additional computer time and one-on-one training.
The training format was based in experiential learning. During each
session, the participants were introduced to a new skill, such as
constructing a basic HTML page. With the aid of several instructors
who would work with the participants on an individual level, the
women spent the remainder of the session practicing the application
of this skill as they built their own websites. In addition to basic
skills instruction, time was also dedicated to discussion of the
implications and issues involved in the uses of the Internet for
women's rights advocacy, with the participants exposed to various
ways in which the Internet is currently used as a tool for democratic
activism and political organizing. All the participants created
web pages for their organizations, which they will continue to update
and expand after returning home. The sessions on electronic mail
and mailing lists provided them with the skills to manage and distribute
important information both locally and globally. They will have
continued use of e-mail accounts and web space on the Matrix servers
here at MSU and receive ongoing technical support. For more detailed
information on these sessions please go to Internet
Workshop. Seminars:
The seminars on American women's political participation and democratic
organizing combined lectures, presentations, and visits to important
women's organizations in the Lansing area. There were sessions on
the history of US women's political activism, on AIDS outreach and
education, domestic violence and reproductive rights issues, and
a trip to a GM assembly plant and a meeting with women UAW leaders.
The participants met with the Provost Lou Anna Simon of MSU to discuss
issues of women in higher education, and they were introduced to
the numerous resources at MSU including the Women in Development
office and the African Studies Center. The participants also gave
country presentations in an open forum about the main issues and
challenges for women in their respective countries. To see scheduled
activities for the seminar sessions go to Schedule
For
both workshops, the week in Washington concentrated on US women's
organizing at national levels, and included scheduled visits to
Emily's List, the League of Women Voters, the National Organization
for Women, and in May 2001, the International Human Rights Law Group.
These visits provided a context for productive dialogue and exchange,
with the participants establishing many contacts for future collaboration.
Participants were exposed to the techniques and strategies employed
by US women activists, and they engaged in strategic dialogue about
how some of these strategies might apply to their own countries
and situations.
In May 2001 participants had opportunity to formally present their web-projects at the State Department to both the Office of Citizen's Exchange, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, and representatives from Education for Development and Democracy Initiative (EDDI) at USAID. A congressional reception honoring the participants was held at the capitol, and was attended by delegates from Michigan, the congressional Black Caucus, and the Senegalese Ambassador to the United States. Participants also toured the Capitol and observed debates concerning Education and bill proposals concerning the implementation of a school vouchers in the U.S. education system, and also had opportunity to meet with Senator Debbie Stabenow.
A grant award from the Bureau of Cultural and Education Affairs, Office of Citizen's Exchange will support the third "Internet and Women's Democratic Networking in West Africa" workshop, which will be held at MSU and in Washington, DC in May of 2002. This program will be followed up by two regional workshops in West Africa in November 2002.
Program Support: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs The success of African Internet Connectivity Projects such as The Internet and Women's Democratic Organizing are due in great part to the support of the U.S State Department' s Office of Citizen Exchanges. James Ogul, Program Officer, manages numerous professional and cultural programs through grants with non-profit American institutions, including community organizations, professional associations, and universities. Programs supported by this office are based on competition, substantive rigor, and cross-cultural sensitivity. For more information about program-funding and other projects supported by this office, please contact:
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Internet and Women's Democratic Organizing - 2001 |
