After a pretty 'challenging' first few days things have settled down and are looking up!
We have moved location to an apartment block just outside the city and much closer to the Digital Hub. We are assured that the security is excellent!
I have spent a lot of the last two days in the hub here. During the school hours girls and boys alternate taking turns in the training center. At any one time there is almost 100 people in the hub either training, refurbishing computers or having meetings about various projects.
I am amazed at the technical level some of the people have to got to and with no formal training in many cases! When the Camara volunteers arrive next week they are going to be hard pushed to show them anything new. However, Camara is hoping to have all their training (and in particular the training of trainers) officially certified so this year an official pilot of a FETAC level 3 basic ICT course will be run to see is it viable in a specific timeframe. If it is, this will become the anchor training mechanism for all engagements in the future.
A container of over 400 computers is presently being cleared in Mombasa port. The excitement level in the hub in anticipation of the computers arriving is palpable. It promises to be a fantastic occasion to be here for and I will hopefully be photographing and documenting it in a few days.
It has certainly been a challenging start - probably the most challenging start I have experienced to date coming out here. However, when you spend time in the hub and see the positive impact it is having on peoples lives you realise, even more, how important it is to remain positive and hopeful despite the challenges.
I really believe that poverty creates desperation and desperation and human beings are not a good mixture. On the flip side good education can provide a way out of poverty and ultimately thats what Camara is all about. Giving people access to technology, education and knowledge so they have more choices for their future.
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